Patna: Just days after the Chhath festival, Patna Junction has once again turned into a sea of humanity. The platforms are overflowing with migrant workers and their families—bags in hand, children in tow—boarding long-distance trains to Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Surat, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The massive exodus highlights a persistent issue that has haunted Bihar for decades: lack of local employment.
The Ernakulam Superfast Express (22670) departing on Tuesday evening was among the most crowded, with hundreds of passengers—mostly laborers—jostling for space. For many, the festival season was a brief return home before resuming their struggle for livelihood in other states.
“Family and Money Are More Important Than Elections”
Abhishek Kumar (32), a resident of Barbighi in Begusarai, was seen boarding the train to Tamil Nadu with his wife and two children. For the last seven years, he has lived in Coimbatore, working in a private company. “Family responsibilities and livelihood come first,” he said. “Bihar doesn’t have enough jobs or good opportunities. In Tamil Nadu, I earn enough to take care of my family. Family and money are more important than elections.”
For Pintu Kumar (46) of Sitamarhi, migration is not a choice—it’s a compulsion. “There’s no employment here, only debt. I’ve worked in a factory in Coimbatore for years. If there were good jobs in Bihar, why would anyone travel for three days and work so hard in another state?” he asked, sitting with his luggage on the platform floor.
Nitish Kumar (29), also from Sitamarhi, expressed the same helplessness. “No one wants to leave home and work thousands of kilometers away, but survival forces us to. Other states offer better pay and facilities. It’s both compulsion and helplessness,” he said.
“No Jobs Even After Years of Rule”
Dheeraj Kumar, a resident of Vaishali, voiced his frustration at the political leadership. “Nitish Kumar has ruled Bihar for 20 years, and Prime Minister Modi has been at the Centre for 11 years. Still, there are no jobs here. Even educated youth are leaving for work outside. This is our compulsion,” he said.
He added that although two railway factories have been set up in Bihar, local residents have seen little benefit. “Jobs are still scarce, and recruitment is minimal. Most of us are forced to migrate despite these big announcements.”
Lost Glory of Bihar’s Industries
Many workers recalled the time when Bihar was once self-reliant, with flourishing sugar mills, Bhagalpur’s silk industry, and thriving small-scale businesses. “There was a time when Saran’s Marton Mill and Saran Engineering Company provided employment to thousands,” said Raju Mukhiya, another migrant laborer waiting at the station. “But after these industries shut down, the state became industrially weak. We have no option but to go outside.”
Migration Peaks Again Before Elections
With millions of workers from Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, and other districts heading back to southern and western India, the migration wave has intensified—ironically, just ahead of the Assembly elections.
While political parties promise development, migrants at Patna Junction seem unmoved. “We’ve heard promises before,” one worker said. “Until Bihar has factories and stable jobs, we’ll keep leaving. Voting can wait—feeding our families cannot.”
As the trains pull out of Patna Junction packed with passengers, the scene mirrors a larger truth—one that election speeches rarely address: for millions in Bihar, migration is not a choice, but survival.
