2025, Vol. 8, Issue 2

Migration has played a pivotal role in shaping the socio-economic contours of the border districts of West Bengal, with Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur standing out as particularly affected regions. These districts, located along the porous and politically sensitive Indo-Bangladesh border, have historically served as entry points for waves of migrants-both documented and undocumented-driven by a confluence of historical upheavals, geopolitical shifts, and persistent economic disparities. The legacy of the Partition of India in 1947, followed by the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, triggered large-scale population movements that continue to reverberate through these districts. Additionally, ongoing cross-border migration, fueled by poverty, ethnic ties, and environmental stressors, has contributed to a sustained demographic transformation.
This paper seeks to critically examine the economic ramifications of such migration, with a particular focus on four interrelated domains: distortions in local labor markets, mounting pressure on public infrastructure and services, fragmentation of agricultural holdings, and the proliferation of informal economic activities. These impacts are not merely statistical anomalies but are deeply embedded in the lived realities of local communities, influencing employment patterns, access to resources, and the overall trajectory of regional development. By drawing upon a triangulated methodology that includes census data, field-level surveys, and a review of existing academic and policy literature, the study aims to unravel the complex and often contradictory relationship between migration and underdevelopment in these districts. Ultimately, the findings underscore the urgent need for nuanced, region-specific policy interventions that address both the immediate economic challenges and the structural vulnerabilities exacerbated by migration.