We’ll bring our workers back, ensure social security: Mamata
Times of India | 29 July 2025
Kolkata/Bolpur: Bengal administration will ensure "the social security" of migrant workers willing to return to the state and help them resettle here.
"You have the police helpline number. Contact us, let us know when you wish to return and we will bring you back by train," Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Monday before Trinamool's first "Bhasha Andolan" march in Santiniketan, the seat of Tagore's Visva-Bharati.
"We will give you social security and will admit your kids to school. There is no need to stay in a place where no one loves you. No need to stay in Mumbai, UP or Rajasthan. I may not be able to feed you pithe or payesh (Bengali desserts) but, if we eat one roti, we will ensure you get one, too. You can live here in peace," the CM said, adding that 22 lakh migrants from Bengal worked in other states.
"There's no need to rely on brokers to work outside. When they (workers) are abused, brokers disappear. If they wish to return, they shall return. If they have a place to stay here, fine. If not, we will set up camps. We will give them ration cards, health cards, and jobs under the Karmashree project," she said.
CM Mamata Banerjee also told West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board chairperson Samirul Islam, "Sit with the chief secretary, take Moloy (state law and labour minister Moloy Ghatak) with you and formulate a scheme to bring the migrant workers back.
" The CM's statements came during an administrative meeting at Bolpur's Gitanjali Stadium.
Following the meeting, Banerjee led the "Bhasha Andolan" march which covered a three-kilometre stretch, from the Tourist Lodge crossing and culminated at Jamboni bus stand. The CM thanked ‘Ashramiks' for joining the march and the state's large non-Bengali population for supporting the protests.
Following the march, Banerjee said, she could lay down her life for Bangla and the Bengali ‘Asmita'. "I am not against any language. We want unity and threatening and harassing people is not our way. Even yesterday, a (Bengali) child in Delhi was beaten up. Cops are taking them from one police station to another. Then one day, he and his family will disappear and police will say this was a fake claim. This is not how we (govts) should work. The job is to work for development," she said.
Alleging that there was a bigger "game plan" in play, Banerjee said: "Assam govt is sending NRC notices to a tribal family in Alipurduar. In Maharashtra, Matuas are being persecuted. A worker is murdered…I cannot even recognise this country any more. The country I know sustains all people, my country keeps everyone happy. If they (BJP-led state govts) continue like this, the country will get fragmented. This is their game plan.
"She also asked how Bengal residents were being pushed to Bangladesh despite having all relevant documents. "Remember, this is Bengal. It led the country in the freedom struggle, abolished Sati and ensured widow remarriage. Do not test us," Banerjee said, adding: "Those who ask as to why Bengalis are working in other states should know that Bengalis get work because of their skills. There are 1.5 crore migrants from other states working here. We don't misbehave with them. Why should you?"