The total number of migrants from West Bengal working in other States is about 22.40 lakh, according to the West Bengal government.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
A recent study involving workers migrating from West Bengal found 15.94% of the respondents faced discrimination in housing, and 14.09% faced harassment over language.
The study by Kolkata-based Sabar Institute included more than 7,500 migrant households in urban and rural Panskura, a town in Purba Medinipur district with high outward migration. The researchers engaged about 100 students from the Panskura Banamali College (Autonomous) between July 27 and August 10, 2025 to conduct the study.
About 62.87% of the respondents cited better employment as the main reason for migration.
Migration severely impacted the education of students, the study found, as 60.23% of the respondents were students before they migrated for work. “This suggests that migration contributes to high dropout rates [in higher education] in West Bengal. Over 51% [for the respondents] had only completed [their education upto] Classes 10 and 12, indicating that many discontinued education to migrate for work — a sign of distress migration,” the report based on the study said.
On the use of remittances by migrants, the study pointed out that 25% of the households used remittances for food, and 18% for healthcare. “This shows that migration sustains basic needs than discretionary spending,” the study said.
The study assumes significance as there is no real data available on migrants or on issues related to migration, Sabir Ahamed of the Sabar Institute said. “We need proper data to understand the complex issue of migration so that the challenges faced by migrating workers are addressed,” Mr. Ahamed said.
The total number of migrants from West Bengal working in other States is about 22.40 lakh, according to the West Bengal government. Over the past few months, there have been reports that migrant workers were being targeted and harassed on the suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. Not only were the workers detained in several States and forced to produce identity documents, some were ‘pushed back’ into Bangladesh. The migrant crisis has triggered a debate on Bengali asmita (cultural and linguistic identity), and has been dominating politics in the State for several months.
The West Bengal government has announced the Shramashree scheme to provide ₹5,000 per month for migrant workers returning to the State. About 24,000 migrant workers have returned to West Bengal in recent months, according to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Published – September 20, 2025 09:22 pm IST
