The recent train crash in Kolkata that left more than 100 people dead, mostly migrant workers, has highlighted the poor economy in West Bengal. Many migrant workers from the state have been forced to leave in search of better job opportunities, with an estimated 7 million working as daily wagers in other states.
Rabindranath Jana, a 23-year-old college dropout from Bengal, was on the train when it crashed. He was providing much-needed financial assistance to his farmer father, whose land is not profitable enough to sustain the family. Despite being severely injured, Jana has appealed to his employer to give him time to rejoin work, as there are few opportunities for work in his home state.
Premik Ghosh and Dipankar Mondal Choudhury, two other migrant workers who died in the accident, were the sole earners of their families. Ghosh, a JCB loader who earned Rs 40,000 per month in Chennai, couldn’t even make half that salary in Bengal.
With no new industries coming up in West Bengal and the 100-day MGNREGS halted due to corruption allegations, the lack of job opportunities is driving many poor people to seek work elsewhere. Bengal residents have no choice but to take up menial jobs in other states due to the lack of employment options at home.
The West Bengal Migrant Labourers Union has demanded special compensation for the families of all the dead migrant workers and urged the government to take equal responsibility. The union is also calling for an acting Supreme Court judge to investigate the accident.
The tragic train crash highlights the urgent need for economic development and job creation in West Bengal. Without meaningful investment, rural areas of the state will continue to be left behind, and more people will be forced to migrate for livelihood.
