THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is planning an expansion of the Karunya Benevolent Fund scheme to provide free treatment for lifestyle diseases.
Announcing this during the launch of the Xmas-New Year bumper lottery, Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac said the government aims to utilise the profit from state lotteries for public healthcare.
The Xmas-New Year bumper offers a first prize of Rupees six crore. The ticket is priced at R200 and draw will be conducted on January 24, 2018.
Kerala State Lottery Agents and Sellers Welfare Fund Board chairman P R Jayaprakash received the first ticket from the Minister.
Lotteries Department Joint Director T Suresh Kumari attended the function. The State Lotteries is witnessing an impressive growth with the average monthly sales going up from the R600- R650 crore range to about R900 crore. 52 percent of the total sales proceeds is given as prizes, the highest among the lotteries in the country, Isaac said.
24 percent of the sales proceeds is given as commission for the lottery agents. The net revenue to the government is spent on welfare programmes.