Illegal Migration
The recent communal violence in the Bodo areas of Assam has brought to light one of gravest and age-old problems that have existed, i.e. illegal migration. It is something that has been taking place since partition, but which has never been handled with the care and caution that it deserves. Though innocuous on the outlook, its effect on the political, social, economic and ethnic conditions is tremendous, so much so that its redressal is of utmost importance for the harmony and social stability of the affected communities.
Illegal migration mainly takes place in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country from neighboring Bangladesh. Although no reliable numbers on illegal immigrants are currently available, Bangladeshis form the largest group of migrants in India. As per 2001 census there are 3,084,826 people in India who came from Bangladesh. No reliable numbers on illegal immigrants are currently available. Extrapolating the census data gives a figure of 2 million. Although figures as high as 20 million are also reported in the media. 1971's liberation war and continued political and economic turmoil in Bangladesh in the following decades forced some Bangladeshis to seek refuge in India. Most of them migrated to the border states, particularly West Bengal and Assam. This issue became more visible after the 1991 census when patterns of abnormally high growth rate of Muslims were observed in the border states Assam and West Bengal. In 1991 census Muslim population growth rates in these states were found to be much higher than the growth rates of the local Hindu population even after adjusting for the usual higher growth rate of Muslims observed throughout the country.
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh has caused demographic upheaval and generated serious communal, political, social and economic tensions and conflicts in several areas of the northeast of India. The most affected states are West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Bihar, and Tripura, although migrants “have spread to far off states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi. Politically, the Bangladeshi migrants are in a position to influence the results of the elections in a large number of constituencies in the North East (about 32% of the constituencies in Assam). Economically, increased pressure on land, resulting in depletion of forest wealth, undercutting of wages of unskilled jobs, forcible occupation of Government land by the migrants and a host of other such issues, generate a ripple effect in the entire North East. Due to vote-bank politics, the motivation to block illegal migrants from Bangladesh is absent. The gravity and scope of threats arising out of illegal migration was highlighted by the then Governor of Assam, Lt Gen S. K. Sinha in his report. He states that :
"This silent and invidious demographic invasion of Assam may result in the loss of the geo-strategically vital districts of Lower Assam. The influx of these illegal migrants is turning these districts into a Muslim majority region. It will then only be a matter of time when a demand for their merger with Bangladesh may be made. The rapid growth of international Islamic fundamentalism may provide the driving force for this demand. In this context, it is pertinent that Bangladesh has long discarded secularism and has chosen to become an Islamic State. Loss of Lower Assam will sever the entire land mass of the North East, from the rest of India and the rich natural resources of that region will be lost to the Nation."
The states of Tripura and Meghalaya face a similar situation. In Tripura, the migrants have reduced the locals to a minority leading to rise of insurgent groups like All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). Bangladeshi migrants have even spread to far off states in the region like Arunachal Pradesh, and other parts of India. Some of these migrants give shelter to Bangladeshi militant groups like HuJI (B) and are very amenable to ISI activities.
Despite the seriousness of this issue and its dangerous repercussions, there has been no action by the government. The man-power of the BSF (border security force) is not sufficient to guard the entire border. It is also required to discourage illegal migration in India by putting into place proper legislation. An exclusive refugee/migration law is long pending. It is not that migrants from Bangladesh should not be allowed to enter the country, but there have to certain restrictions, certain curbs on their voting rights, atleast for a few years. In addition to this, there has to be a proper mechanism which should help differentiate migrants from the local inhabitants.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_in_India
http://www.claws.in/index.php?action=master&task=355&u_id=57
http://centreright.in/2012/07/illegal-migration-a-serious-issue/
http://www.vifindia.org/article/2012/august/06/illegal-migration-as-a-threat-to-india-s-internal-security
Illegal migration mainly takes place in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country from neighboring Bangladesh. Although no reliable numbers on illegal immigrants are currently available, Bangladeshis form the largest group of migrants in India. As per 2001 census there are 3,084,826 people in India who came from Bangladesh. No reliable numbers on illegal immigrants are currently available. Extrapolating the census data gives a figure of 2 million. Although figures as high as 20 million are also reported in the media. 1971's liberation war and continued political and economic turmoil in Bangladesh in the following decades forced some Bangladeshis to seek refuge in India. Most of them migrated to the border states, particularly West Bengal and Assam. This issue became more visible after the 1991 census when patterns of abnormally high growth rate of Muslims were observed in the border states Assam and West Bengal. In 1991 census Muslim population growth rates in these states were found to be much higher than the growth rates of the local Hindu population even after adjusting for the usual higher growth rate of Muslims observed throughout the country.
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh has caused demographic upheaval and generated serious communal, political, social and economic tensions and conflicts in several areas of the northeast of India. The most affected states are West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Bihar, and Tripura, although migrants “have spread to far off states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi. Politically, the Bangladeshi migrants are in a position to influence the results of the elections in a large number of constituencies in the North East (about 32% of the constituencies in Assam). Economically, increased pressure on land, resulting in depletion of forest wealth, undercutting of wages of unskilled jobs, forcible occupation of Government land by the migrants and a host of other such issues, generate a ripple effect in the entire North East. Due to vote-bank politics, the motivation to block illegal migrants from Bangladesh is absent. The gravity and scope of threats arising out of illegal migration was highlighted by the then Governor of Assam, Lt Gen S. K. Sinha in his report. He states that :
"This silent and invidious demographic invasion of Assam may result in the loss of the geo-strategically vital districts of Lower Assam. The influx of these illegal migrants is turning these districts into a Muslim majority region. It will then only be a matter of time when a demand for their merger with Bangladesh may be made. The rapid growth of international Islamic fundamentalism may provide the driving force for this demand. In this context, it is pertinent that Bangladesh has long discarded secularism and has chosen to become an Islamic State. Loss of Lower Assam will sever the entire land mass of the North East, from the rest of India and the rich natural resources of that region will be lost to the Nation."
The states of Tripura and Meghalaya face a similar situation. In Tripura, the migrants have reduced the locals to a minority leading to rise of insurgent groups like All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). Bangladeshi migrants have even spread to far off states in the region like Arunachal Pradesh, and other parts of India. Some of these migrants give shelter to Bangladeshi militant groups like HuJI (B) and are very amenable to ISI activities.
Despite the seriousness of this issue and its dangerous repercussions, there has been no action by the government. The man-power of the BSF (border security force) is not sufficient to guard the entire border. It is also required to discourage illegal migration in India by putting into place proper legislation. An exclusive refugee/migration law is long pending. It is not that migrants from Bangladesh should not be allowed to enter the country, but there have to certain restrictions, certain curbs on their voting rights, atleast for a few years. In addition to this, there has to be a proper mechanism which should help differentiate migrants from the local inhabitants.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_in_India
http://www.claws.in/index.php?action=master&task=355&u_id=57
http://centreright.in/2012/07/illegal-migration-a-serious-issue/
http://www.vifindia.org/article/2012/august/06/illegal-migration-as-a-threat-to-india-s-internal-security
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