Tamil Nadu launches subsidised vegetable kit for Deepavali

Tamil Nadu Minister for Cooperation V. Gandhiraj launched the sale of the 'Vettri Special Vegetables Kit' on November 5, 2026, offering 10 varieties of vegetables at a subsidised rate of 100 rupees.

Distribution Details

The sale takes place across 218 cooperative shops in the State and through four mobile vending vehicles in Chennai. The special kit will remain available for three days until November 7, during the regular working hours of the outlets. To help more people benefit from the scheme, the State government restricted the sale to one kit per person.

Kit Contents

Each package weighs between 2.55 kg and 2.6 kg in total. It includes 500 grams of onion, 500 grams of tomato, 250 grams of brinjal, 250 grams of potato, 200 grams of carrot, 200 grams of beans, 100 grams of green chilli, 100 grams of lemon, 50 grams of ginger, and one coconut weighing between 400 and 450 grams.

Purpose and Reactions

According to an official release, the initiative aims to provide the public with fresh and quality cooking vegetables at prices lower than prevailing market rates ahead of Deepavali. Beneficiaries noted that the scheme helps counter food inflation and that buying the items individually would cost over 150 rupees in the open market. P. Amudha, Additional Chief Secretary for Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection, and Registrar of Cooperative Societies G. Latha attended the launch at Chinthamani Super Market in Anna Nagar West, Chennai.

Context

State governments in India frequently use cooperative networks and fair-price outlets to distribute subsidized essential items during major festivals when consumer demand and prices typically rise. Such targeted interventions help cushion lower- and middle-income households from sudden spikes in vegetable prices during peak festive periods.