Onam markets record higher sales

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 28. The Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Mr. G. Karthikeyan, said here today that the metro fairs, district fairs and Onam markets, run by the State Civil Supplies Corporation to check price during the Onam season, were recording increased sales.

The sales was 53 per cent higher than last year's at the Thiruvananthapuram metro fair. The Ernakulam metro fair showed an increase of 5 per cent while Kozhikode recorded an increment of 19 per cent in sales. The sales at other centres were higher by 33 per cent, the Minister said.

He noted that the total turnover had already touched Rs. 2.39 crores compared to Rs. 2.21 cores for the entire season last year. This showed increased confidence of the people on the quality and price of the items being sold through the Onam markets and fairs.

Mr. Karthikeyan said that differently coloured ration cards were being issued to families living above the poverty line (APL) and below the poverty line (BPL) in accordance with a Central directive. The State Government had issued orders based on the directive in March this year when the LDF was in power. Different colours were being used for easy identification and the State Government did not have powers to alter it. The covers of ration cards for BPL families would be pale rose. The APL families will get cards with sky blue covers. New cards would be distributed before January next year. Those who could not apply for new cards under unavoidable circumstances may be allowed to apply though the last date for submitting the applications was over.

He said the Civil Supplies Corporation had allocated 14,140 metric tonnes of rice for distribution to pupils of 11,232 schools in the State free of charge in connection with Onam. Each pupil would get 5 kg of rice. Each ration card-holder was being given an additional 1.5 kg sugar for Onam. The price would be the same for both BPL and APL families (13.35 a kg.)

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Section  : Southern States
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