Kolkata, Jul 27 (PTI) In response to growing reports of Bengali-speaking migrant workers being detained or harassed in other states, the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) have launched a coordinated initiative combining administrative action with grassroots political outreach.
A dedicated WhatsApp helpline, reactivated district-level migrant welfare cells, and TMC-led task forces across high-migration districts have been rolled out to address grievances and provide real-time support to distressed workers and their families.
"The approach is two-pronged. The government is reaching out to authorities in other states through official channels, while the party’s grassroots network is working directly with families of migrants," senior TMC leader and state minister Manas Bhunia said.
The measures follow recent incidents of alleged profiling and detentions of Bengali workers in states including Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh.
Helpline and Grassroots Network
The WhatsApp helpline, launched by the West Bengal Police, enables families to report migrant distress cases by sharing names, locations, and other details. Police officials have urged citizens to spread the helpline number widely on social media for faster response.
Meanwhile, the TMC has mobilised its organisational network across districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, and North and South 24 Parganas. Each municipal ward and gram panchayat now maintains real-time migrant tracking registers, with local party volunteers acting as first responders.
"These grassroots helpdesks are the first point of contact for families. They help with documentation, alert authorities, and sometimes arrange transportation for complainants," a TMC functionary from Malda said.
District-Level Coordination
District-level migrant worker teams, comprising officials from the labour department, panchayats, and local MLAs, meet regularly to review complaints and escalate unresolved cases to the state administration.
In Uttar Dinajpur’s Itahar, TMC MLA Mosaraf Hussen has set up a full-time helpdesk near Pater Sathi bus stand to assist families of migrants detained in Haryana. "We help issue residential and clearance certificates, which are often needed to prove citizenship," Hussen said.
Revamped Migrant Welfare Cells
The West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board is overhauling dormant district migrant cells, adding new staff and creating direct coordination channels with district magistrates. It is also mapping Bengali migrant clusters across India to streamline support.
Rajya Sabha MP and board chairman Samirul Islam stated that the migration narrative is often exaggerated. "There are 1.5 crore migrant workers from other states in West Bengal, compared to 22.5 lakh Bengali workers outside," he said, while stressing initiatives to boost local employment.
Political Implications
TMC leaders admit that the move also has political undertones ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. "We will fight this injustice through every democratic means," TMC spokesperson Krishanu Mitra said.
Opposition BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, however, has launched a counter-campaign, alleging infiltration by Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims and claiming irregularities in the electoral roll.
"If TMC is perceived as the party that stands by its people, even outside the state, it could strengthen its electoral position," political analyst Subhomoy Moitra observed.