Thiruvananthapuram: In these times of dreadful pandemic, let’s celebrate Onam following all safety rules without compromise, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Uttaradom has dawned to welcome Thiruonam and amid the crisis posed by Covid, let us celebrate Onam without loss to glitter. The government has designed several schemes to ensure Onam passes without deprivation.
A Rs 5650 crore-package is being implemented to aid the small scale sector that has come under particularly hard crisis owing to lockdowns. Over 90 lakh households are being provided with free and special grocery kit at cost Rs 526 crores to the state exchequer plus, 48.5 lakh beneficiaries have been paid Rs 3,100 each in combined pensions for August and September, drawn on Rs 1481.87 crores the government put aside for the purpose. Remittances are in progress for a Rs 1000-relief each for workers who are members of various welfare boards. Rs 5.76 crores was set aside from Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for the purpose.
With Onam at threshold, free grocery kits were distributed to over 25 lakh school children earlier. Also, Onam bazars(Onachandha) have been set up all over the state to make available grocery and vegetables are low prices. In view of bolstering festive sales, the government had announced relaxations for shopkeepers and businesses earlier. Several steps have been thus taken to ensure Onam celebrations happen without hitches or anxiety.
The Chief Minister extended Uttaradom greetings to all Malayalis and said,. “Let’s begin preparations for Thiruonam tomorrow imbibing values of brotherhood and equality the festival symbolises.".
