The government has decided to provide five grocery items free of cost to all ration card holders in the Union Territory as Deepavali gift.

Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs V. P. Sivakolundhu announced the government’s decision to provide the Deepavali gift hamper containing 2kg of sugar and sunflower oil, 1kg of gram dal (kadalai paruppu) and 500grams each of maida and rava to card holders.

Around 3.45 lakh ration card holders will benefit from the initiative in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. The government would incur an additional expenditure of ₹25 crore towards procurement of the food products through the Puducherry State Consumers Cooperative Federation Limited, said an official.

The Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department was working on a proposal to distribute free every month five products, including food grains and ghee, to red and yellow ration card holders, the official said. “We are working on the proposal to be placed before the Cabinet. The yellow card holders will get free half of the quantity of products supplied to the red card holders. Finer details are being worked out,” the official added.