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The '''2007 West Bengal food riots''' took place in [[West Bengal]], [[India]] over shortage of food and widespread [[Political corruption|corruption]] in the [[public distribution system]]. The riots first happened in [[Burdwan]], [[Bankura]], and [[Birbhum]] districts but later spread to other districts. The riots started on 16 September 2007 in [[Radhamohanpur]] village in Bankura district.

Three villagers were shot dead and more than 300 villagers were injured in riots. At least three ration distributors committed suicide. The [[Government of West Bengal|State Government]] suspended 113 dealers and served [[show cause]] notices to 37 food inspectors. A [[Supreme Court of India]] appointed committee has found wide-spread corruption to be the root cause of the riots.

==Causes==
India had a [[public distribution system]] that was used to distribute food grains to poor people at affordable prices fixed by the government. These food grains are distributed through Ration Shops, to card-holders. Many of these ration shop dealers were also Rice Mill owners, able to control the entire chain of supply. In 2007-08 a worldwide phenomenon of [[2007-08 world food price crisis|increasing food prices]] motivated some of the dealers to sell quality food grains in open market while inferior quality grain was distributed through the ration shops. At the same time, a move by the state government to exclude some of the families above poverty line from the PDS system. Faced with increasing food prices, this led to increasing discontent among the masses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YkszNkcBAsC&q=report+on+2007+west+bengal+riots+supreme+court&pg=PA145|title=Democracy and Famine|last=Rubin|first=Olivier|date=2012-12-06|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136865411|language=en}}</ref>

In many places, the houses of local PDS dealers were set on fire and looted in many instances. The threat of violence and public humiliation also led to a few PDS dealers committing suicide. The riots originated from Bankura district in the latter half of the year, soon spreading across many other districts in the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Food%20Riots%20and%20Food%20Rights%20-%20IndiaReport.pdf|title=The Moral and Political Economy of Food in India|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref>

A report by the commission appointed by the [[Supreme Court of India]] found that wide spread corruption and diversion of superior quality food grains caused the riots. The report said studies conducted by the government had shown that 34.9% of rice and 86.6% of wheat meant for PDS got diverted, while 83% of wheat meant for below poverty line people and 60% of rice (the essential diet of the poorest of the BPL families) also got stolen.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[List of food riots]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite news|title=Panel blames corrupt PDS for Bengal food riots|date=December 21, 2007|author=Sethi, Nitin|work=The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Panel_blames_corrupt_PDS_for_kakus_food_riots/rssarticleshow/2639176.cms}}
*{{cite news|title=Grain of Truth - Only industrialization can solve Bengal's food problems|author=Srkar, Abhuirup|date=October 25, 2007|publisher=The Telegraph|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071025/asp/opinion/story_8468453.asp}}
*{{cite news|title=Food riots expose how corruption hurts India's poor|author=Majumdar, Bappa|date=October 12, 2007|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP318536}}
*https://web.archive.org/web/20081013082930/http://www.centralchronicle.com/20071205/0512303.htm
*http://www.samachaar.in/West_Bengal/Food_riots_continue_in_south_Bengal_5670/{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024183705/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/24/stories/2007102454341500.htm ]

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[[Category:Food riots]]
[[Category:2007 in India|West Bengal Food Riots, 2007]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:2007 riots|West Bengal Food Riots, 2007]]
[[Category:Economic history of India]]
[[Category:2000s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:September 2007 events in India]]

2007 West Bengal food riots - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 17:02, 13 August 2023