KOCHI: A fine of Rs 5,21,48,697 was imposed in the state between May 2021 and August 2023 for illegal possession of priority ration cards. During the 'Operation Yellow' inspection from September to December 2022 to identify ineligible people, a fine of Rs 4.19 crore was levied.

The authorities are conducting thorough screenings to identify those who are ineligible. Fines were collected from those identified through complaints and those who did not use their ration cards. A total of 59,406 ration cards in the priority category which had not been used for three consecutive months were shifted to the general category. This included 48,691 cards in the PHH (pink) category, 6,448 cards in the AAY (yellow) category and 4,267 cards in the NPS (blue) category.

The state-wide action began in May 2021. Those caught in violation are charged based on the market price of the ration produce they had purchased up to that point.

If you have information about someone's ineligibility, you can report it to the authorities through WhatsApp at 9188527301 or toll-free at 1967.

Action is being taken against those who meet the following criteria

Those who own a house with an area exceeding one thousand square feet.

Those who own four-wheelers.

Those with a monthly income exceeding Rs. 25,000.

People employed abroad.

People working in government, semi-government and public sector institutions.

In Thrissur, a total of Rs 1,33,66,752 was collected as fines while Kottayam had the lowest fine amount of Rs 2,13,278. Other fine amounts include Malappuram - Rs 1,17,81,939, Ernakulam - Rs 72,88,429, Palakkad - Rs 54,24,821, Kannur - Rs 32,31,859, Pathanamthitta - Rs 30,00,704, Thiruvananthapuram - Rs 18,05,599, Alappuzha - Rs 17,57,857, Kozhikode - Rs 16,62,857, Wayanad - Rs 9,70,524, Kollam - Rs 6,87,568, Kasaragod - Rs 5,04,168 and Idukki - Rs 4,52,342.