Lack of livelihood prompts migration from flood-prone Katihar district

PUNE: The death of 15 people from Katihar in Pune's wall collapse on Saturday brought the perennial problem of migration of workers from Bihar to other states to the fore once again.
All the 15 people killed in the tragedy were from Baghar and Mahisal villages under Balirampur block, close to West Bengal border, in Katihar district.
Katihar, a part of Kosi division, is one of the most-affected districts as far as migration of people in search of job to states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab is concerned.Overcrowded trains at Katihar Junction is a common sight.
"Districts like Araria, Purnia, Supaul, Madhepura, Kishanganj and Saharsa also witness migration of workers every year. People of Kosi and Seemanchal regions have no option but to migrate to big cities to earn livelihood. These regions are flood-prone. There is no agriculture and industry," said D M Diwakar, head of economic division of A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna.
Pancham Lal Singh, a social activist, said, "One can get a feel of the problem at Saharsa railway station, where youths jostle with each other to get berth in long distance trains."
Sunil Kumar Singh (55), a resident of Mahisi Bazar in Supaul district, said the magnitude of the problem could be gauged from the fact that villages have only elderly people, women and children.