The Kerala government will begin distributing free Onam food kits to Yellow ration cardholders under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme and residents of various welfare institutions from August 10, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob announced on Tuesday.
The state aims to complete the distribution before Uthradom, which falls on August 25, ensuring beneficiaries receive the festive assistance ahead of Onam celebrations.
According to estimates prepared in June 2026, Kerala will distribute 6,09,305 Onam food kits across the state. Each kit, packed in an eco-friendly cloth bag, contains 16 essential grocery items valued at approximately ₹854. To implement the welfare initiative, the state government has sanctioned ₹53 crore, with the Civil Supplies Department and Supplyco currently making the final preparations for distribution.
The government has also put measures in place to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential food grains during the festive season. A total of 1,65,932 metric tonnes of rice and 24,506 metric tonnes of wheat will be made available in the market to meet increased consumer demand during Onam.
In addition to the free kits for AAY beneficiaries, non-priority Blue ration cardholders will also receive special Onam benefits beginning next month. Under the scheme, eligible families can purchase 3 kilograms of rice at ₹10.90 per kilogram and 2 kilograms of wheat at ₹8.70 per kilogram, offering affordable access to staple food items during the festival.
Gold 101.3FM, UAE’s No. 1 radio station, continues to keep listeners informed with the latest updates from Kerala, including important government welfare initiatives,
festival announcements and major developments affecting Malayali communities both in India and abroad.
As part of its annual market intervention programme to help stabilise prices and improve access to essential commodities, Supplyco will organise an extensive network of Onam markets across Kerala. This includes three Mega Trade Fairs, 11 District Fairs, and 126 constituency-level Onam Markets.
The Mega Trade Fairs will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode from August 8 to August 25, while the District Fairs are scheduled from August 16 to August 25, providing consumers with essential commodities at subsidised rates during the festive period.
Highlighting the department’s performance, Minister Anoop Jacob said the state government has allocated ₹448.05 crore to the Food and Civil Supplies Department since assuming office. He also noted significant progress in ration card services, revealing that 73,024 of the 76,338 online applications received for priority ration cards have already been approved and issued.
The free Onam food kit prepared for AAY cardholders and residents of welfare homes includes 16 essential items, featuring several products from Kerala’s popular Sabari brand, ensuring families have access to quality ingredients for celebrating the state’s biggest festival.
