The total number of migrants from West Bengal working in other countries is, according to the government of West Bengal, about 22.40 Lakhs. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/Istockphoto
A recent study including workers migrating from West Bengal has found that 15.94% of respondents face discrimination in housing and 14.09% faced harassment over language.
The Sabar Institute study based in Kolkata included more than 7,500 migrants households in the city and rural pansko, the city in the Purba Medinipur district with high external migration. Scientists have involved about 100 students from Panskura Banamali College (autonomous) between July 27 to August 10, 2025 to perform a study.
About 62.87% of respondents quoted a better job as the main reason for migration.
The study found that migration seriously influenced students’ education, because 60.23% of respondents were students before they moved to work. “This suggests that migration contributes to a high level of premature completion (in higher education) in West Bengal. More than 51% (for respondents) only completed (their education up to) class 10 and 12, indicating that many completed education migrates into work – a sign of distress.”
Regarding the use of migrants remittances, the study pointed out that 25% of households used remittings for food and 18% for health care. “This shows that migration maintains basic needs than discretion expenditure,” the study said.
Studies assume significance because there are no real data on migrants or issues related to migration, Sabir Ahamed said with the Sabar Institute. “We need the right data to understand the complicated problem of migration to deal with the challenges facing the migration of workers,” Mr. Ahamed said.
The total number of migrants from West Bengal working in other countries is, according to the government of West Bengal, about 22.40 Lakhs. Over the past few months, there have been reports that migrant workers have been focused and harassed to suspicion of Bangladeshi nationals. Not only were the workers detained in several countries and were forced to present identity documents, some were “pushed” back into Bangladesh. The crisis of migrants has triggered a debate on the Bengalian Assis (cultural and language identity) and dominates the state for several months.
The West Bengal Government has announced the SHRAMASHREE scheme, which provides migrating workers returning to the state of 5,000 GBP per month. According to the main Minister Mamata Banerjee, about 24,000 migrant workers have returned in recent months.
Published – September 2025 9:22
