Express News Service
AHMEDABAD: On the one hand, under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Government of India has decided to provide free rations to 81.35 crore people belonging to low-income families for a year. On the other hand, the Gujarat government has ordered the cancellation of the NFSA ration cards without conducting an economic survey, which will deprive over five lakh members of over 80,000 tribal families of their right to food.
According to the Gujarat government, there are more ration cards than residents in many areas, hence it has started the process of canceling the ration cards of 83,556 families spread across 11 districts and more than 30 talukas. The majority of tribal families are concentrated in these talukas and districts.
Vansda, a tribal-populated area, is the most affected by the government’s decision. Vansda taluka Deputy Collector (Mamalatdar) MS Vasava told , “We have revived a circular issued by the government so the ration cards are being canceled, I can’t say anything more on the matter.”
A public distribution system shopkeeper who requested anonymity said “the government’s decision will primarily affect tribal families, as only 3600 families in Vansda taluka will be affected. The important thing to remember is that the ration card is issued by the government, and they have the authority to cancel it, but they are forcing shopkeepers like us. “You should bring the list of non-NFSA and cancel the card,” he says.
Vansada Congress MLA Anant Patel said, “most of the people in the tribal areas are very poor as they cannot earn their daily meal by themselves, and without any kind of circular, any kind of economic survey, they are forced to cancel ration cards by directly ordering the Mamlatdar, and many ration cards of old age people, disabled, women, and widows have been canceled in this cancellation process.”
“Ration cards for 217 families in Wangan village, Vansda taluka, where all tribal families live, have been canceled. Without conducting any type of economic survey, we will hold a rally in the entire tribal area in the coming days, as well as write a letter to the Chief Minister, and if the government does not reverse its decision, we will stage a movement throughout Gujarat.” He further said
According to Data, 7470 Narmada district ration cards, 7595 Dang district ration cards, and 5,947 Tapi district ration cards have been canceled. In addition, the government has ordered the cancellation of NFSA ration cards in the following tribal areas: 3607 in Vansda taluka, 1763 in Kawant, 3267 in Jhalod, 5227 in Ghoghamba, 4462 in Morwahdf, 1080 in Balasinore, and 3806 in Posina. According to Congress MLA Anant Patel, the government has deprived 80,000 tribal families, or over 500,000 people, of their right to food.
AHMEDABAD: On the one hand, under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the Government of India has decided to provide free rations to 81.35 crore people belonging to low-income families for a year. On the other hand, the Gujarat government has ordered the cancellation of the NFSA ration cards without conducting an economic survey, which will deprive over five lakh members of over 80,000 tribal families of their right to food.
According to the Gujarat government, there are more ration cards than residents in many areas, hence it has started the process of canceling the ration cards of 83,556 families spread across 11 districts and more than 30 talukas. The majority of tribal families are concentrated in these talukas and districts.
Vansda, a tribal-populated area, is the most affected by the government’s decision. Vansda taluka Deputy Collector (Mamalatdar) MS Vasava told , “We have revived a circular issued by the government so the ration cards are being canceled, I can’t say anything more on the matter.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
A public distribution system shopkeeper who requested anonymity said “the government’s decision will primarily affect tribal families, as only 3600 families in Vansda taluka will be affected. The important thing to remember is that the ration card is issued by the government, and they have the authority to cancel it, but they are forcing shopkeepers like us. “You should bring the list of non-NFSA and cancel the card,” he says.
Vansada Congress MLA Anant Patel said, “most of the people in the tribal areas are very poor as they cannot earn their daily meal by themselves, and without any kind of circular, any kind of economic survey, they are forced to cancel ration cards by directly ordering the Mamlatdar, and many ration cards of old age people, disabled, women, and widows have been canceled in this cancellation process.”
“Ration cards for 217 families in Wangan village, Vansda taluka, where all tribal families live, have been canceled. Without conducting any type of economic survey, we will hold a rally in the entire tribal area in the coming days, as well as write a letter to the Chief Minister, and if the government does not reverse its decision, we will stage a movement throughout Gujarat.” He further said
According to Data, 7470 Narmada district ration cards, 7595 Dang district ration cards, and 5,947 Tapi district ration cards have been canceled. In addition, the government has ordered the cancellation of NFSA ration cards in the following tribal areas: 3607 in Vansda taluka, 1763 in Kawant, 3267 in Jhalod, 5227 in Ghoghamba, 4462 in Morwahdf, 1080 in Balasinore, and 3806 in Posina. According to Congress MLA Anant Patel, the government has deprived 80,000 tribal families, or over 500,000 people, of their right to food.
