'ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ALTERING MUMBAI DEMOGRAPHY'

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Myanmar pressures Mumbai’s resources, impacting jobs, security, and politics.

- SAURABH SHARMA

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh and Myanmar is altering Mumbai's social, economic and political discourse, and undermining democratic representation as politicians cater to immigrant groups for votes, claimed a new report. According to the interim report by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, titled "Illegal Immigrants to Mumbai: Analysing Socio-Economic and Political Consequences", illegal immigrants especially Muslims from bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar has been on the rise in Mumbai, putting unsustainable pressure on the city's limited resources.

"Since 1961 the percentage of Hindus has decreased substantially from 88% to 66% in 2011, while there is a significant rise in the Muslim population from 8% in 1961 to 21% in 2011", the report said.

The report further projected that "Hindu population by 2051, would drop down below 54% and the rise in Muslim population will be approximately 30%".