• Dr. Debarshi Bhattacharya

An unfortunate outcome of India's 1947 historical partition was the creation of enclaves in both India and Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan). Due to terrible mockeries of historical and political fate, the sparse population of these enclaves was compelled to live in ‘no man's land’ as ‘nowhere people’ for a lengthy 67 years after India's independence and partition. Until June 2015, when India and Bangladesh signed the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), these unfortunate people were unreasonably denied access to basic services, rights, opportunities, and government support for their primary living. By virtue of the LBA, 2015, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside Indian territory and 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladeshi territory were transferred to the other nation with effect from midnight of July 31, 2015. As per the press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, 922 people, out of the total 38,521, from the erstwhile Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh chose to relocate to the Indian mainland retaining their original Indian citizenship. On the other hand, all 14,863 inhabitants of the former Bangladeshi enclaves inside India chose to change their citizenship to become Indian citizens and to remain in India. Almost nine years had elapsed in the interim. The current socioeconomic status of these unfortunate Indian citizens, who recently emigrated to the Indian mainland under LBA, 2015, deserves examination and assessment. It is imperative to ascertain whether the primary concerns raised by these migrated Indian citizens have been properly addressed following the terms of implementation of the LBA, 2015. Could these newly migrated Indian citizens be able to live up to the same standard and status of living as their fellow nationals? To resettle these migrated Indian citizens, the Indian Govt. established three Permanent Rehabilitation Clusters in Haldibari, Mekhligunj, and Dinhata under the Coochbehar District of West Bengal. A thorough study was conducted through an extensive field survey in each cluster. The research was carried out utilizing primary and secondary data obtained through empirical analysis of field surveys and literature reviews. Collected data were analyzed by using computer software and interpreted. The outcome of the project pinpointedly revealed the real present socio-economic situation of the migrated Indian citizens newly resettled on the Indian mainland.

International Border, Enclaves, Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), Exchange of Enclaves, Permanent Rehabilitation Clusters.

"Study on Present Socio-economic Condition of Newly Migrated Indian Citizens from Bangladesh Territory under LBA, 2015", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no.f663-f676, June-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406573.pdf

"Study on Present Socio-economic Condition of Newly Migrated Indian Citizens from Bangladesh Territory under LBA, 2015", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 6, page no. ppf663-f676, June-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2406573.pdf