Mamata announces rehab plan for WB migrants to other states

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a rehabilitation scheme on Monday for migrant workers returning home from various Bharatiya Janata Partyruled states where they are being detained on the suspicion that they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Some of these people were deported as well and brought back by the West Bengal police.

- Ayesha Arvind HT Correspondent

"The cabinet passed the decision today. We have named the scheme Shramashree. We will give a one-time grant of ₹5000 to each person to cover their travel expenses. Thereon, they will get 25000 every month. The labour department will run the project," Banerjee told the media at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

She said there are 2.24 million registered migrant workers in Bengal and all of them will be entitled to these benefits.

"We have brought back 2,370 migrant families so far. I must point out that migrant workers from other states who are working in Bengal will not be entitled to these benefits," Banerjee said.