A recent study has shed light on the harsh realities faced by workers migrating from West Bengal. Findings indicate that nearly 16% of respondents encountered discrimination in housing, while over 14% experienced harassment related to their language.
The comprehensive study, conducted by the Kolkata-based Sabar Institute, surveyed more than 7,500 migrant households in both urban and rural areas of Panskura, a region known for its high rate of outward migration. The research, which took place between July 27 and August 10, 2025, involved approximately 100 students from Panskura Banamali College (Autonomous) as field researchers.
A significant majority, about 62.87% of the respondents, stated that their primary motivation for migration was the pursuit of better employment opportunities.
The study further revealed that migration severely impacted students’ education, with 60.23% of respondents having been students before moving for work. This trend suggests a strong link between migration and high dropout rates in higher education across West Bengal. Over 51% of those surveyed had only completed education up to Class 10 or 12, indicating that many prematurely ended their schooling to migrate for work—a clear sign of distress migration.
Regarding how migrants utilized their remittances, the study found that 25% of households allocated funds for food and 18% for healthcare. This pattern suggests that migration primarily serves to cover essential needs rather than discretionary spending.
Sabir Ahamed of the Sabar Institute emphasized the importance of the study, noting the lack of reliable data on migrants and migration-related issues. “We desperately need accurate data to truly grasp the complex challenges of migration, enabling us to effectively address the difficulties faced by these workers,” Mr. Ahamed stated.
According to the West Bengal government, approximately 22.40 lakh migrants from the state are currently working in other parts of India. In recent months, disturbing reports have emerged of migrant workers being targeted and harassed under suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. Many were detained in various states and forced to produce identity documents, with some even being ‘pushed back’ into Bangladesh. This migrant crisis has ignited intense political debate within West Bengal, centering on Bengali identity and cultural pride, dominating the state’s political discourse for several months.
In response, the West Bengal government has launched the Shramashree scheme, offering ₹5,000 per month to migrant workers returning to the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reported that around 24,000 migrant workers have returned to West Bengal in recent months.