Puttur, 28 September 2026: Several changes have been planned for this year’s Ashoka Janamana Deepavali Vastra Vitarana programme to improve crowd management and make the distribution process more convenient for the public, Puttur MLA and Rai Estate Educational and Charitable Trust chief promoter Ashok Kumar Rai said.
The programme is scheduled to be held on November 8 at the Kombettu Taluk Stadium in Puttur. Ashok Kumar Rai made the announcement while chairing a preparatory meeting at his office on September 26. Changes follow difficulties experienced during last year’s programme, when a large crowd gathered at the venue. Reports from the 2025 event said several people fell ill amid overcrowding, dehydration and delays in food and gift distribution.
Distribution to Begin at 10 AM
Ashok Kumar Rai said distribution of clothing items would begin at 10 am, without waiting for the arrival of special guests, as part of the new crowd-management plan. Separate counters will be established for plates, sarees and bed sheets, with only one type of item distributed at each counter. An ink mark will be placed on beneficiaries’ fingers to prevent a person from collecting items from multiple counters.
A long, organised queue system will also be introduced to avoid overcrowding at individual distribution points. Ashok Kumar Rai said sarees and bed sheets of better quality would be distributed this year and that the selected products would carry a two-year guarantee, according to the organisers.
Traditional Goodudeepa competition and felicitation of 10 economically disadvantaged achievers will continue. The organisers said the large cultural programme would be reduced this year, with a musical programme planned instead.
Dosa From Morning, Annadana From 11.30 AM
Ashok Kumar Rai said food arrangements would also be made throughout the day. Dosa distribution will begin at 10 am, while Annadana will begin at 11.30 am and continue until 3 pm. Dosa distribution will resume in the afternoon. Organisers aim to complete the clothing distribution by 6 pm, Ashok Kumar Rai said.
Ashok Kumar Rai also said the programme was being organised at an estimated cost of ₹4 crore, according to his statement at the meeting. He said advance payments had already been made for sarees and bed sheets and that the organisers would distribute the items regardless of the number of people attending.
Focus on Publicity and Ground-Level Coordination
With about a month remaining for the programme, Rai asked organisers and workers to undertake publicity at the village level and clearly inform the public that distribution would begin at 10 am.
He called for coordination through the Trust and systematic planning through charts and designated responsibilities. He also suggested involving women associated with the Dharmasthala Rural Development Project in the awareness campaign. He called for publicity through different community networks, including mosques and churches, as well as social media.
Leaders to Be Invited
During the meeting, participants called for the invitation of the Chief Minister, state and national-level leaders to the programme. Ashok Kumar Rai said efforts would be made to invite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while participants also suggested inviting KPCC leaders and national leaders.
The reference to the Chief Minister and the Puttur medical college follows the 2025 Ashoka Janamana programme, where Siddaramaiah publicly reiterated the government's commitment to establishing a medical college in Puttur.
Supporters Praise Ashok Rai's Development Initiatives
KPCC coordinator Kavu Hemanath Shetty said Rai had taken up several development-related initiatives in Puttur and called for a public felicitation of the MLA during the Deepavali programme.
KPCC General Secretary M. S. Mohammed said the Ashoka Janamana programme had grown into a major public event and urged everyone involved to take responsibility for ensuring its smooth conduct.
Block Congress president Krishnaprasad Alva said party workers had come together around the programme following Rai's entry into the Congress and described the annual clothing distribution as a major initiative.
Other speakers at the meeting included Guarantee Implementation Committee president Umanath Shetty Perne, Vittla Block Congress president Padmanabha Poojary, Yogish Samani, District Congress General Secretary Muralidhar Rai Mathanthabettu and other representatives.
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Family Gathering Planned for December
Ashok Kumar Rai also announced plans for a large family gathering for workers in December.
He said the earlier proposal to distribute coupons to workers had been dropped as it might not be convenient for everyone. Instead, a programme featuring food, refreshments and cultural activities will be organised at the stadium. He said the proposed gathering would aim to bring together around 10,000 workers and strengthen interaction and unity among them.
Quality Check for Sarees and Bed Sheets
Suma Ashok Rai, promoter of the Trust, said samples of the sarees and bed sheets proposed for distribution would be washed, dried and checked for quality before purchase. She said only products meeting the required quality standards would be purchased and distributed. She also said the distribution schedule had been planned around the convenience of the public, with breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments arranged during the event.
The 2025 edition of Ashoka Janamana drew a very large crowd and was followed by reports of people falling ill amid crowding and dehydration. Organisers later acknowledged the difficulties and apologised for the inconvenience.
This year's changes - especially early distribution, separate counters, queue management and a revised food schedule - are intended to address some of the logistical challenges reported during the previous edition.
Keywords: Ashoka Janamana 2026, Puttur Deepavali event, Ashok Kumar Rai, Puttur clothing distribution, Kombettu Taluk Stadium, Deepavali Vastra Vitarana, Puttur Suddi, Puttur News Today, Citizen News Puttur