Food riots expose how graft hurts poor
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BURDWAN: Hundreds of government food distributors were hiding yesterday in fear of their lives in eastern Indian state after riots that were triggered when villagers accused them of stealing and hoarding food meant for the poor . “We admit there are some corrupt members, but everyone is being targeted, forcing most of us to either hide or risk getting killed,” said Ashok Saha, the food distributors’ association chief in Burdwan district, from a secret location. The protests follow a central government inquiry that revealed widespread corruption in the food distribution system. The investigation found that most rural poor in eastern and northern India were not getting regular supplies of the food to which they are entitled. In India, villagers living below the poverty level – about 28% of the rural population in West Bengal – are sold heavily subsidised paddy, wheat and sugar under a central government scheme through thousands of private franchisees. Villagers in the communist-ruled state have looted and set storehouses on fire over the last week. Police have shot dead two villagers during the riots, and more than 300 villagers have been injured in clashes, officials said. “For years, they have been cheating us,” said a weeping Arjina Bibi in Burdwan, as she stood next to her three hungry children. “They were saying there were no stocks available, while we have seen lorries carry away wheat to flour mills at midnight.” Burdwan is projected as a model of efficient governance. “Come and see how we share a morsel of rice among eight members,” Noor Jahan, 45, said in another village in West Bengal, as police walked past a burnt food storehouse next to her. The riots have been a major embarrassment for the state’s ruling communists since it involves people living below the poverty line, the vote bank of the left for the last 30 years. “This agitation is perhaps the biggest test for the communists,” economist Abhirup Sarkar said. The survey showed how only 10% to 15% of the poorest were getting some supplies in remote villages of West Bengal, a state of 80mn people. In Uttar Pradesh state, barely 6% of poor villagers got the food. A report in the Hindustan Times newspaper said this week that a food ministry panel found 53% of wheat meant for the poor in the capital, New Delhi, was diverted to open markets. – Reuters |
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