When you come to Punjab and visit its main cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, Chandigarh, and the surrounding rural areas, with large communities in SAS Nagar (Mohali), once upon a time, you will think either you are wandering in Punjab or Bihar, UP, or MP. Everywhere you will see migrant (parvasi) people. Punjab is becoming the land of outsiders who came here from other states.
These people come here from labour work, and after a few years, they will start their own very small business, like riksha driving, roadside fruit, vegetable, food, and tea stall. Many of them start working a plumbers, construction workers, carpenters, painters, and cleaners.
Earlier, people from Bihar, UP, MP, and other states used to come to Punjab to work in the fields. However, nowadays, they are working in factories, offices, or industrial areas. Most of the workers you will find in factories, agriculture, street markets, or doing labor work are migrants.
The Impact of Parvasi Migrants on Punjab’s
Migrant or parvasi have built their strong base in Punjab.
1. Taking jobs of native workers
The first problem created by migrant workers is that they have taken away local people’s jobs because they are willing to work for very low wages and rarely take breaks. Therefore, people are giving preference to migrant workers for factory work, construction, cleaning, agriculture, and other home and commercial jobs. This has led to an unemployment problem in Punjab, and local people are struggling to find work. You will find migrant workers doing all kinds of jobs, from the smallest to the largest, whether it is manual labor, cooking, setting up roadside stalls, selling vegetables, or working in the fields. In almost every type of work, you will find migrant workers.
2. Becoming a permanent resident of Punjab
Many migrants are coming to Punjab and working day and night. They have even started buying plots of land and building houses here. Many have built homes, established residency, and become permanent residents of Punjab. As a result, the migrant population in Punjab has increased significantly. In some areas, the local population has become smaller than the migrant population. This is causing great concern among the people of Punjab because, as permanent residents, they have started contributing to political and social activities. There is a significant difference between their mindset and that of the local Punjabi people, which is causing friction with the local population.
3. Strain on public services
Due to the influx of migrant people in Punjab, you will find them everywhere. Whether you talk about public transportation, hospitals, schools, banks, or local fairs, you will find a large number of migrant workers everywhere. This is creating problems for local people. It leads to poor service quality, long waits, staff burnout, strikes, and growing public dissatisfaction.
4. Increase in crime
The due to effects of migrant workers have also led to a significant increase in the crime rate, as it is impossible to know the character of every individual. Many engage in theft, drug dealing, eve-teasing, and even prostitution. Recently, some have committed violent crimes, including assault and murder, against local people, which has sparked considerable anger among the residents. Consequently, some villages have banned migrants from settling there.
5. Raise costs for housing
The large number of migrants arriving in Punjab has also caused a surge in property prices, which makes it very difficult to buy a house for the common man. The demand for property is increasing, but the housing supply is insufficient, especially in cities near industrial areas. It is particularly difficult to find affordable housing, as most migrants rent their homes. Property rates have skyrocketed in major cities.
6. Effecting Politics
As migrants continue to arrive in Punjab, they are buying property and becoming permanent residents, even participating in political activities. In some villages, the number of migrant workers now exceeds the number of local residents, and even the village heads and council members are migrants. There are also concerns that more parvasi individuals are coming to Punjab and engaging in political activities, which is becoming another source of worry for the local population. The political party is also targeting Punjab and encouraging people from poorer states to work and live in Punjab for their benefit.
7. Changes in demographic balance
The large influx of migrants into Punjab has led to significant changes in the demographic balance. A large number of young people from outside the state are arriving, causing population growth. Most of the labor force consists of these migrants. This has created considerable religious, cultural, and political instability. While Punjab was historically home primarily to Hindus and Sikhs, people of other religions have now settled here, leading to religious tensions. Some people are also exploiting this religious and demographic imbalance for political gain. The influx of migrants has led to a change in the demographics of the cities and even some villages. Some villages now have a significant migrant worker population, and the local villagers are leaving these areas to find work elsewhere because they don’t like to live in an area where parvasi people are living.
8. Loss of Youths to International Migration
Ironically, many young Punjabis are migrating abroad due to factors like lack of local job opportunities, an agrarian crisis, and peer pressure. This results in a “brain drain” and “capital drain” from the state, a problem some locals link to the high number of internal migrants filling low-wage jobs. The increase in the migrant population in Punjab is due to the scarcity of job opportunities there. This outward migration of the local workforce is causing significant economic, religious, and social damage to Punjab. The fact that these workers are going to countries like Canada, the USA, Australia, NZ, where they contribute to the economy, further exacerbates the problem for Punjab.
9. Overcrowding
The population of Punjab has seen a significant surge due to the influx of migrant workers and their families. While most people in Punjab have only one or two children. Whereas migrant people have three or four children. They initially come to work and later bring their families here. The husband and wife often work in different places, and their children stay at home and attend local government schools. In most areas, you will see a large number of migrant people, which contributes to the high population density everywhere.
10. Begging
In Punjab, begging is everywhere – traffic signals, markets, parking lots, outside religious places, your own home or apartment complex, and other public places. Mostly, beggars from them are Parvasi people who use their family members, even children, for begging.
The number of migrant workers in Tricity is increasing. Previously, they used to live in the fields, but now they are settling in cities and villages as well. The number of migrants in Tricity’s villages and cities is growing, causing concern among the local people as they are losing their jobs and other states are taking over their work. In the villages and towns of Tricity, local people are seen less while migrants are becoming more visible.
The list of the Towns and Villages in Tricity has the Maximum number of migrants People
Here are some places in Tricity with large migrant populations:
1. Zirakpur
Located just outside Chandigarh, Zirakpur has become a hub for migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal, and Kashmir, especially those working in the IT and service sectors.
2. Dera Bassi
Dera Bassi is another village that has experienced a rise in the migrant population. The town is known for its industrial development and has attracted a large number of laborers from neighboring states. Several residential colonies and housing societies have been established in the region.
3. Kharar
Kharar, a tehsil in the Mohali district, has also seen a rise in the number of migrants. The town offers better educational facilities to students, making it an attractive destination for Parvasi and other migrants.
4. Banur
Banur is a rapidly developing village in the Tricity area. The village has seen significant investment in infrastructure and real estate, attracting a large number of migrants.
5. Kumbra
Kumbra is a village that has seen a significant increase in its population due to migration. The village is known for its greenery and peaceful environment, making it an ideal place for Parvasi and other migrants to settle.
6. Raipur Khurd
The village offers a mix of urban and rural amenities, making it an attractive place for families. The presence of various residential colonies and commercial establishments has led to its development.
More villages with a high density of Parvati and migrant peoples.
- Sohana
- Gobindgarh
- Saidpura
- Kurawala
- Gulabgarh
- Mubakpur
- Baltana
- Dhakoli
- Lalru
- Dhanas
- Hallo Majra
- Kajheri
- Mauli Jagran
