Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav promise to end Bihar’s migration crisis, but experts say the issue runs deeper than politics. Can Bihar create jobs at home, or will migration remain its lifeline?
Brajesh Mishra
At a rally in Sakra, Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav promised to end Bihar’s migration crisis. But the challenge they face is far bigger than politics.
On a cloudy afternoon in Sakra, a small town in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stood before a large crowd and asked, “How is the mood?”
The crowd responded with energy: “Josh is high! Badlo sarkar!” (Change the government!)
It was Rahul’s first major rally in Bihar this election season. He shared the stage with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition’s chief ministerial face. Together, they attacked the ruling NDA government, blamed rising unemployment, and made a promise that every government in Bihar has repeated for decades:
“Bihar’s youth deserve jobs at home — not in Delhi, not in Mumbai, but here in Bihar.”
The message drew applause. But it also raised an old question: can any government really stop the mass migration of Bihar’s workers?
The rally came after weeks of tension within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which includes Congress, RJD, and left parties. The partners have struggled to agree on seat-sharing and are even competing against each other on some seats.
Rahul’s appearance was meant to show unity. He focused his speech on unemployment, poverty, and what he called “the collapse of Bihar’s economy.” He accused the “double engine” BJP-JD(U) government of failing young people.
Interestingly, Rahul avoided direct attacks on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has led Bihar for most of the past two decades. Instead, he kept his focus on national issues like job creation, inflation, and corporate monopolies.
But the audience reaction revealed something deeper. Many young attendees said they were less interested in political blame and more focused on real opportunities. As one student put it, “We don’t care who gives data or Wi-Fi — we just need work.”
It was a reminder that Bihar’s election debates may revolve around politics, but the public mood revolves around employment.
Migration has been part of Bihar’s story for generations.
Every year, nearly 30 lakh people leave the state to work in other parts of India — in construction sites, factories, delivery jobs, or small businesses. Today, about three crore Biharis live or work outside the state.
Remittances — the money they send back home — are now a crucial part of Bihar’s economy. Economists estimate that this income contributes nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore to the state each year.
Bihar’s challenge is simple: there aren’t enough local jobs.
For most families, migration is not a choice — it’s a necessity.
Rahul Gandhi, 54, used the rally to highlight Bihar’s development gaps — from education to infrastructure. He argued that unemployment and migration were signs of a “broken system.”
Tejashwi Yadav, 36, echoed the message, promising “one government job for every family” — a slogan he has used since 2020.
It’s a popular line, but experts call it unrealistic. Bihar has around 3 crore households. Even if half qualified, that would mean 1.5 crore government jobs. The state currently employs around five lakh people. Expanding that by thirty times would be financially impossible.
Still, these promises resonate emotionally because they express what people feel: that leaving home for work should not be the only path to success.
Economists often describe Bihar’s migration as both a problem and a solution. It highlights the lack of local industry, but it also keeps families afloat.
Workers who migrate send money that pays for children’s education, food, and healthcare. Villages across Bihar depend on this income.
This makes migration less of a failure and more of a survival strategy. As long as Bihar’s industries remain small and investment limited, people will continue to move out in search of better pay and stability.
Even large-scale government job schemes can’t fully replace that. The private sector, infrastructure, and long-term investment will decide Bihar’s future — not slogans or short-term measures.
Bihar’s struggle is part of a larger national imbalance. Most of India’s industrial growth and job creation happens in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Together, they account for 60% of India’s manufacturing output, even though they have less than one-third of its population.
Bihar, by contrast, still struggles with weak infrastructure, frequent floods, power shortages, and low investor confidence. These barriers make it difficult for new industries to grow or attract private companies.
The result is a cycle:
few factories → few jobs → migration → loss of skilled workers → fewer new factories.
Breaking this cycle will take more than election promises. It requires a steady decade of policy focus and investment — something Bihar hasn’t had in years.
At the Sakra rally, the crowd’s energy was real. But so was its skepticism. Many young people who had returned home during the pandemic are already planning to leave again after the elections.
For them, the promise of “jobs at home” isn’t just about income — it’s about identity and dignity. They want to be able to build a future without leaving their families behind.
But until Bihar creates enough opportunities within its borders, migration will remain both its weakness and its strength.
If every party has promised to end migration for 20 years, and migration has only grown, what does that say about the way India develops?
It suggests that Bihar’s story isn’t just about local governance — it’s about a national economy that grows unevenly, concentrating opportunity in a few states while leaving others dependent on mobility.
Migration, then, isn’t a failure to fix. It’s a reflection of where India’s growth actually happens.
1. How many people migrate from Bihar each year?
About 30 lakh (3 million) people leave Bihar every year to work in other states. Around three crore currently live or work outside Bihar.
2. Why do they leave?
Mostly for employment. Bihar’s industrial and service sectors haven’t grown fast enough to absorb its large youth population.
3. How much money do migrants send back?
Roughly ₹1.5 lakh crore annually, according to economic estimates. This supports rural families and fuels local spending.
4. Which states attract the most Bihari workers?
Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka are the main destinations.
5. What are the key challenges in creating local jobs?
Low industrial investment, limited private sector presence, power shortages, and poor logistics.
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