Bhutanese families in India want to return home
Fearing that they might be labelled in the same terms as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal, Bhutanese families living in India want the government to bring them back home.
All Bhutanese staying in Jaigaon in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal feared social, economical, cultural, religious, and political implications if they continued to stay there.
In a media recent survey, respondents said that, in the long run, they might be labelled in the same terms as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Nepal.
Before that happens, the government should bring the refugees back to Bhutan, the respondents said. According to them, over 1,000 Bhutanese might be staying in Jaigaon.
Going by this rough figure and the average monthly family income, Nu 5 million, is directly pumped into India in the form of the cost of living. Analysts in Phuentsholing, however, said the figure could cross 10 million.
Officials in Phuentsholing said surveys must be carried out to ascertain the cash flow across the border and its economic impact on Bhutan in the long run. Bhutanese residents in Jaigaon paid house rents ranging from Nu 1000 to Nu 4500.
They said they were willing to pay Nu 1000 more if they got apartments in Phuentsholing in Bhutan. Respondents, who comprised drivers, mechanics, wage labourers, and university graduates, said they might be paying higher rents than the local people.
Tshering Phuns, a private firm employee, said the government should not only discuss their issues in the parliament, but also come up with solutions. Another respondent Namgay said Bhutanese in Jaigaon are not safe.
"There are frequent strikes, violence, sexual, physical and mental abuse by the local people on women and children.
Sometimes, we are intimidated into joining political rallies or practising a certain religion," he said.
A survey by Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) found that at least 500 Bhutanese industrial workers and their relatives stayed across the border in India for want of houses in Phuentsholing.
Kesang Wangdi, regional secretary of BCCI, said the multi-sector taskforce should do something to help the Bhutanese living in India. He said many factories followed shift system, and many a time, people faced problems reaching their offices on time.
