hiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹5.28 crore for distributing free Onam clothing to tribal community members aged 60 years and above as part of its Onam welfare initiatives. The decision, led by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, is aimed at ensuring that senior members of the Scheduled Tribe communities can celebrate the festival with greater support and dignity.
A total of 52,826 beneficiaries will receive the Onam clothing assistance. The government has fixed the assistance at ₹1,000 per person, taking the total allocation to ₹5,28,26,000 (Rupees five crore twenty-eight lakh twenty-six thousand).
₹1,000 Assistance for Each Beneficiary
Under the initiative, each eligible tribal senior citizen will receive Onam clothing worth ₹1,000. With 52,826 people covered under the scheme, the total financial requirement has been calculated as:
52,826 beneficiaries × ₹1,000 = ₹5,28,26,000
The allocation is expected to provide direct financial support to thousands of elderly members of the tribal communities during the festive season.
Focus on Senior Members of Tribal Communities
The scheme specifically targets members of the tribal communities who are 60 years of age or above. For many economically vulnerable households, meeting additional expenses associated with festivals can be challenging. The Onam clothing assistance is intended to reduce that burden and help elderly beneficiaries participate in the celebrations.
Onam is one of Kerala’s most important cultural festivals, traditionally associated with community celebrations, new clothes and sharing. Welfare initiatives targeting vulnerable sections are therefore particularly significant during the festival season.
52,826 People to Benefit
The government allocation will cover 52,826 tribal beneficiaries across the state. By providing ₹1,000 worth of clothing assistance to each person, the programme extends direct festive-season support to a large number of senior citizens from Scheduled Tribe communities.
The move is also being viewed as part of broader social welfare measures aimed at extending government support to vulnerable sections of society and ensuring that the benefits of the festive season reach communities that require additional assistance.
₹5.28 Crore Sanctioned
The total amount sanctioned for the programme is ₹5,28,26,000, or approximately ₹5.28 crore. The allocation will facilitate the distribution of Onam clothing to eligible tribal beneficiaries aged 60 and above.
The initiative is expected to bring additional support and festive cheer to thousands of senior members of Kerala’s tribal communities during Onam 2026.
