West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday unveiled a new programme titled the Shramasree Project for rehabilitating migrant labourers who have been compelled to return from other states. The scheme aims to extend money and social help to lakhs of workers who, according to Banerjee, were being harassed in BJP-ruled states.
What is Shramasree Project?
Under the project, workers will be issued job cards through a dedicated web portal. Each returning worker will also receive ₹5,000 per month for one year or until they secure employment, whichever is earlier. Apart from the financial aid, the scheme also extends benefits under the ‘Khadhya Sathi’ food assurance scheme and the ‘Swastha Swathi’ health scheme. The state government has further promised to support the education of their children.
Mamata Banerjee’s Attack on BJP
The Chief Minister sharpened her attack on the BJP, blaming the party for attacking Bengali-speaking workers in multiple states. She alleged that an estimated 22 lakh migrant workers and their families are being “harassed” in BJP-governed states through “pre-planned attacks.” Her comments came days after 52 Bengali workers were arrested in Gurugram, Haryana, on charges of being illegal Bangladesh migrants.
Banerjee asserted, “The workers who are employed in other states are coming back helpless, tormented, and are being branded criminals due to their language. We have come up with a plan to return these workers and rehabilitate them.”
Opposition Criticism on Mamata Banerjee
The plan has already been criticized by the opposition. West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari rejected the plan as insufficient. “All migrant workers make ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh. This ₹5,000 will not benefit them. Workers are content in other states and won’t come back for such a meager amount,” Adhikari stated.
Labour Migration from West Bengal
The figure of migration from West Bengal is considerable. Workers are migrating from Bengal to other states, mainly for their daily sustenance and to provide for their families. The 2011 Census indicated that West Bengal had approximately 580,000 out-migrants for employment. While out-migrant numbers from other states may differ, residents from West Bengal ranked 4th nationally only behind Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
At a broader level, the Census of India counted 33 million migrant workers by employment in 2001, which jumped explosively to 51 million in 2011 mirroring the increasing extent of labour mobility across India.
Bengali migrant workers are extensively employed in construction work, domestic services, rag picking, and other poorly paid occupations in southern states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and constitute the core of urban informal labour forces.
A Political and Social Gamble
State elections are due next year, but the Shramasree Project is also a politically significant step. It addresses the challenges faced by returnee workers, and the program is benefitting Mamata Banerjee’s welfare agenda by energizing working-class families and contesting BJP’s growing influence in Bengal.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
