New Delhi: The Gujarat government has passed an order cancel “excess” ration cards under the National Food Security Act in the state. According to a report in The New Indian Express, since this move is being conducted without a socio-economic survey, it is likely to deprive more than five lakh people from 80,000-plus tribal families of their basic right to food.To justify its order, the Gujarat government has said that there are more ration cards than people in several areas. It is thus cancelling ration cards of 83,556 families across 11 districts. According to the Congress party, tribal families are largely concentrated in the areas being targeted.“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. Many ration cards of old age people, disabled, women, and widows have been cancelled in this cancellation process,” Congress MLA from Vansada Anant Patel told The New Indian Express. “Ration cards for 217 families in Wangan village, Vansda taluka, where all tribal families live, have been cancelled. We will hold a rally in the entire tribal area in the coming days, as well as write a letter to the Chief Minister. If the government does not reverse its decision, we will stage a movement throughout Gujarat.”A ration shop dealer also stated that tribal poor are likely to be the most affected by the decision. “The government’s decision will primarily affect tribal families, as only 3,600 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 to do so,” the dealer told the newspaper.