THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An additional fund of Rs 7.86 lakh has been sanctioned for the Onam event organized by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 26, 2023. This brings the total expenditure for the Onam feast to Rs 26,86,130. However, these new reports contradict earlier figures provided by the Kerala State General Administration Department in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query.
In the RTI report, the General Administration Department stated that the Kerala government spent around Rs 19 lakh on the Onam feast. The RTI reply revealed that Rs 1900130 was spent on the event, with the payment made to the hotel on November 8.
However, current reports indicate that with the additional allocation of Rs 7.86 lakh, the total cost for the feast has now risen to Rs 26,86130. The treasury relaxed its control on December 13 and allowed this additional amount.
The new expenditure reports are not balancing with the earlier figures provided by the General Administration Department in response to the RTI query. MK Haridas, President of ‘Proper Channel,’ a social organization focused on RTI, sought information about the Onam feast by filing an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Initially, the department released details but provided information about the contract only after an appeal was filed.
The Onam feast, held at Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall in the Legislative Assembly, was organized by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 26, 2023, for civic leaders.
