Saturday, July 9, 2022

Kerala lottery and livelihood

I feel good to be back in the blogosphere after an unusually long break. I was on holiday and I had decided to keep off as many routine stuff as possible.

I was in Kerala, my home state, and like I always do when I am there, I bought lottery tickets. The desire to strike a jackpot is of course there. But that alone is not the reason.

KERALA STATE LOTTERIES

It's a unique Kerala government programme that was started way back in 1967, when renowned communist leader E M S Namboodiripad was the chief minister. The objective was to generate additional revenue and also provide a source of income for the poor who sell the lottery tickets.

Kerala was the first state in India to have such a lottery scheme. Many states since then started similar programmes. 

But subsequently some states -- including Karnataka, where I now live -- banned them, because of an argument that the paper lottery scheme is akin to gambling, which is illegal in India, except in Goa and Sikkim, where there are casinos. 

In Kerala, over the past 50 years, this scheme has grown into a large industry, netting huge revenue for the state government as well as providing a means of sustenance for hundreds of thousand of ticket vendors. 

There is a full-fledged government department, under the ministry of finance, that runs the lotteries.

The very first draw was held on January 26, 1968, with a first prize money of ₹50,000 (about $630 in today's rates), quite a huge sum those days. 

MANY DRAWS, MANY WINNERS

Now, there are seven daily lotteries every week, and six bumper lotteries every year. Each of them has a different prize structure. The highest prize money could be as high as ₹10 crore ($1.2 million)

During each draw, around 250 people have a chance of winning some prize money, under various categories.

There is a draw every day at 3 pm, and it's done in a very transparent manner. In fact, it's streamed live on YouTube

The results are published on the web.

WELFARE SCHEMES

There are a slew of government welfare programmes that are run with the money that comes in from the sale of the tickets. 

There is a Welfare Fund Board under the Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries that takes care of the lottery ticket vendors. 

Karunya scheme is one such that supports people who are unable to afford the medical expenses.

LUCKY NUMBER

Last month, when I was in Kerala, I bought two tickets. Each costs ₹40. 

It not just the temptation to try my luck, but the sense of contentment / happiness that the ticket cost goes towards government's welfare schemes that drives me to buy a ticket.

For one of the tickets I bought, I got a prize: ₹500. It's the 2nd time I was lucky; on an earlier occasion, I got ₹100.

The encashment of the prize was easy. I went to an authorised ticket vendor, and submitted the ticket. He scanned the QR code on my ticket using an app on his mobile phone. He confirmed the prize, and handed over the prize money.  

This methods of encashment is only for less than ₹1 lakh. For above that, the winner approaches a bank.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Pradeep - how interesting and how forward thinking back in the 1960s ... and is now here to help the very poor. I really enjoyed reading about it - thanks and I do hope you feel re-freshed ... a break is always good - cheers Hilary

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  2. Hari OM
    yes, there is that conundrum of gambling/funding; but I too occasionally purchase our national lottery tickets, because there indeed many things which service the community that would not have been there had it nor been from funding rec'd via lottery monies... and a little return now and then is always fun heh na?! Great to have you back on our screens. YAM xx

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    1. Hi Yamini - That's precisely my thinking as well. And, this lottery is not quite the same as gambling, if I understand it right. The cost price of a ticket is quite low, and there are a whole lot of prizes to be won under various categories. The draw of lucky numbers is also done in a very transparent manner. In fact, it's telecast live on YouTube. There is draw every day at 3 pm.

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  3. It is assuredly gambling but good on you for your win.

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    1. Hi Andrew,
      Thanks. It was a small prize. But still something :-)
      My understanding is that though there is definitely an element of luck, this lottery is slightly different from typical gambling.
      The cost price of a ticket is low, and there are quite a few prizes under various categories.
      The draw of lucky numbers is done in a very transparent manner. In fact, it is streamed live on YouTube.

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  4. Congratulations on winning the lottery. In Kerala lottery, can you pick your own numbers or the numbers already printed in a paper? Here in USA, there are state lotteries and 2 nationwide lotteries. Nationwide lotteries prize money can go up to even half billion dollars. We can choose our own numbers or let the machine choose the numbers as “quick pick”.

    Can you please give me some numbers so I can play the California’s super lotto? Of course, we will share the winning money. HeHeHe.

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  5. I don't know if I'd consider a lottery gambling. The odds of winning are so low, it's more like a donation to whatever the lottery proceeds go to.

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  6. I'm so glad you enjoyed safe travels!

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  7. Glad you had a lovely break Pradeep - and a little windfall on the lottery is an added bonus for a visit back home. Nice to see you back in the blogosphere again.

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