Tamil Nadu government offers subsidised vegetable combo kits for Diwali
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government will sell vegetable kits for Rs 100 through cooperative outlets from 5 to 7 November.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government has announced a special Diwali relief measure to provide subsidised vegetable kits to consumers in Tamil Nadu, according to ThePrint. The ‘Vetri Special Vegetable Combo’, containing 10 varieties of vegetables, will be sold for Rs 100 at cooperative stores from 5 to 7 November.
The kits will be available through 218 selected retail outlets of cooperative wholesale stores and cooperative societies, as well as four mobile vegetable vans in Chennai. Each pack, weighing approximately 2.55 to 2.6 kg, includes 500 grams each of big onions and tomatoes, 250 grams each of brinjal and potatoes, 200 grams each of carrots and beans, 100 grams each of green chillies and lemons, 50 grams of ginger, and one coconut weighing between 400 and 450 grams.
The Co-operation Department issued guidelines on 3 November stating that packs must be sold strictly at the fixed price of Rs 100 as a complete combo, limited to one pack per consumer. The difference between the procurement cost and the sale price, plus a Rs 2.5 packing cost, will be met from the Co-operative Education Fund.
Cooperative department officials said the move aims to help families celebrate the festival without the burden of high vegetable prices. The initiative follows criticism regarding the rising prices of essential commodities such as onions, tomatoes, beans, and ginger.
Dr K. M. Shivakumar, Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics Department at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, said the initiative is expected to help households on tight budgets.
Bhanumurthy N.R., Director of the Madras School of Economics, noted that such measures are generally received positively by lower and middle-income households.