Displacement, Rehabilitation and Resettlement: Bengali Migrants from Assam to Siliguri (1947-1991)

Abstract

Siliguri attracted a bulk of immigrants from Assam to settle down in the region. The unnatural population-growth of Siliguri during the second half of the twentieth century indicates the influx of the evacuees from Assam into the realm. In post-colonial India, Siliguri Sub-division confronted with an unprecedented pace in its development. The mercantile amenities, the ample scope of secondary and tertiary sectors in the town helped the people to get engaged in the commercial field of the region. However, the people initiated their journey in a new way in the town through their own initiatives. A voluminous number of them were the East Bengali Hindu refugees and they should be provided with the Refugee Rehabilitation Scheme of West Bengal. But in reality, they did not find any kind of facilities for their resettlement by the Government. There was also significant number of immigrants who entered into this region to settle for their own financial interests as they wanted to grasp the mercantile opportunities of the town to live better livelihood. The words of these displaced people revealed the truth about their struggle for resettlement in Siliguri after being escaped from Assam. Keywords: 1947 Partition, East-Bengali Refugee,