Bihar Migrant Deaths in Chhattisgarh Blast Revive Unemployment Crisis

The recent blast at an iron plant in Chhattisgarh that killed six labourers from Gotibandh village in Bihar’s Gaya district has once again highlighted the chronic unemployment crisis in the state. Families of the deceased said they would not have sought work far from home if local employment opportunities were available.

The victims, including father-son duo Sundar and Rajdev Bhuiyan, were primarily from the Manjhi and Vishwakarma communities, which rely on manual labour. Many had traveled to Chhattisgarh through contractors offering modest wages of Rs 14,000 per month, along with food and shelter. Their families, burdened by debts and limited local work, face immense emotional and financial hardship.

Gotibandh village, home to around 150 households, lacks basic amenities such as tap water and higher education facilities. Residents explained that the absence of local employment forces them to seek work in other states under hazardous conditions, as reflected in the Chhattisgarh tragedy. Survivors and relatives expressed anger and frustration over the government’s failure to create adequate job opportunities locally.

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Official data confirms the extent of migration from Bihar: approximately 2.5 crore people work outside the state, primarily in unskilled and low-paying jobs. The unemployment rate in Bihar stood at 10.02% for 2023-24, nearly double the national average, while per capita income remains far below the national figure. Between 2019 and 2022, 310 migrant workers from Bihar died in work-related accidents, emphasizing the risks faced by those seeking livelihoods away from home.

Experts such as Professor Pushpendra Kumar, former director of TISS, note that migration is largely forced, with around 71% of outbound workers engaged in precarious, low-wage labour. The social and economic dependence on remittances continues to sustain Bihar, but the lack of local jobs perpetuates a cycle of poverty and vulnerability.

Political leaders have visited Gotibandh to offer condolences and promise investigations into the blast. However, villagers stress that meaningful development, including local employment opportunities, is urgently needed to prevent further tragedies and stem the tide of out-migration from the state.

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