GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
Labour Department
LW/MW Cell
N. S. Building (12th Floor)
1, K. S. Roy Road, Kolkata-700 001
No. Labr-69/2025/(LC-LW/MW) Dated : 19.08.2025
NOTIFICATION
It has come to the notice of the State Government that several Bengali-speaking migrant workers along with their family originating from West Bengal are being discriminated in some States of India.
AND WHEREAS, as a result of the aforesaid incidents, several migrant workers have expressed their desire to return to their native places in West Bengal; and such return is likely to render them jobless overnight, thereby adversely affecting their right to life and livelihood.
AND WHEREAS the Constitution of India envisages the State to function as a welfare State, wherein the preservation of the life of every person, particularly when such life is jeopardized due to circumstances beyond their control, is regarded as essential to the welfare of society.
AND WHEREAS article 21 of the Constitution of India enshrines the right to life as a fundamental right, the obligation to protect which squarely rests upon the State; and article 41 of the Constitution further enjoins upon the State, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, to provide public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, disablement, or other cases of undeserved want.
AND WHEREAS it is the duty of the State to take appropriate measures to ensure that such migrant workers along with their distressed family are not deprived of the means of preserving their lives overnight, and to provide them with sufficient time and support them to make suitable alternative arrangements for their livelihood.
AND WHEREAS this scheme is being launched purely on humanitarian grounds, with the objective of facilitating the return and rehabilitation of such migrant labourers along with their distressed family to their native places in West Bengal, thereby enabling migrant workers to make suitable alternative arrangements to secure a sustainable livelihood.
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by, article 162 of the Constitution of India, and in furtherance of the constitutional obligations under articles 21 and 41, the Governor is pleased to frame this Scheme as herein below:
Scheme
1. Short title and commencement
(1) This scheme may be called SHRAMASHREE Scheme, 2025.
(2) The Scheme shall be deemed to have come into force and from 21.08.2025.
2. Definitions
For the purpose of this scheme, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, –
(a) “Board” means the West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Welfare Board constituted under the West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Welfare Scheme, 2023.
(b) “Claim Sanctioning Authority” means the authorized Assistant Labour Commissioner under Labour Commissionerate, Labour Department.
(c) “Employment Exchange” means the office under Directorate of Employment, Labour Department.
(d) “Employment Officer-in-charge” means the authorized Employment Officer under Directorate of Employment, Labour Department.
(e) “Migrant Worker” means the Migrant workers registered under the West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Welfare Scheme, 2023.
(f) “Registering Authority” means the authorized Inspector, Minimum Wages under Labour Commissionerate, Labour Department.
(g) “Screening Committee” means the Screening Committee headed by the District-in-charge under the Directorate of Employment, will be formed for the purpose determining the eligibility of the migrant worker and project plan. The Employment Officer-in-charge of the concerned Employment Exchange will act as Member-Secretary of the Committee.
2. Eligibility
The benefits under this scheme shall be admissible to:
(1) Registered Migrant labourers under West Bengal Migrant Worker Welfare Scheme, 2023, who express the desire to return to their native places in West Bengal;
(2) Persons possessing Aadhaar/ EPIC issued in West Bengal, or whose parents possess Aadhaar/ EPIC with a residential address in West Bengal.
3. Benefits under the Scheme
(1) Travel Assistance:
One-time grant of Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) shall be provided to the eligible migrant worker for returning to the native place in West Bengal.
(2) Rehabilitation Allowance:
A monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) shall be provided for a period of twelve months or until the eligible migrant worker is rehabilitated through alternative employment, whichever is earlier, to each eligible migrant worker. This allowance shall also support their distressed families in meeting immediate needs. To avail Rehabilitation Allowance, an eligible migrant worker may:
(i) Submit an application to the Registering Authority through karmasathips.wblabour.gov.in i.e. web portal of West Bengal Migrant Workers’ Board (through mobile app) along with following documents:
(a) Aadhaar/EPIC/registered deed of property in their or their parents’ name;
(b) Proof of employment outside West Bengal, if any;
(c) Bank account details;
(ii) The Registering Authority will verify the claim and forward the claim to the Claim Sanctioning Authority;
(iii) Claim Sanctioning Authority will approve the claim and sanction, and forward such claim to the Board for disbursement the claim.
(iv) The Board will disburse the claim to the account of the beneficiaries.
(3) Skill Development, Training & Employment Support:
Skill mapping and training will be conducted to generate employment opportunities near their native places under Utkarsh Bangla scheme by the Department of Technical Education, Training and Skill Development.
4. Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Under Schemes Sponsored by Government of West Bengal:
A. All willing migrant workers will be provided employment/work under Karmashree scheme, preferably near to their native place. Job cards will be issued to such workers on priority basis.
B. Under Udiyaman Swanirbhar Karmasanthan Prakalpa (U.S.K.P) and Udiyaman Swanirbhar Karmasanthan Joutha Prakalpa (U.S.K.J.P), financial assistance up to Rs. 50,000 will be extended to promote self-employment.
The Margin money or subsidy would be @ 25% of the loan amount per person subject to a maximum of Rs. 12,500. To avail such financial assistance (i.e. loan with subsidy) under this Scheme, an eligible migrant worker may:
(i) Submit a duly filled up application in prescribed format (provided by the concerned Employment Exchange) along with a viable project plan (i.e. Scheme document) and all other supporting documents to the Employment Officer-in-charge of the concerned Employment Exchange. The concerned Employment Officer-in-charge will ensure and provide all necessary assistance to the migrant worker for the purpose.
(ii) After verification application along with supporting documents, registration of the migrant worker will be made by the concerned Employment Exchange.
(iii) Financial Assistance application, as mentioned, will be placed before a Screening Committee.
(iv) On the basis of the recommendation of the Screening Committee, the Employment Officer-in-charge will sponsor the eligible loan proposals to the local Bank branches.
(v) Each financing bank branch will sanction the loan proposal and accordingly select the link branch preferably the main branch of the concerned bank in Kolkata, asking for subsidy money for sanctioned proposals.
(vi) Link branch will approach to the Directorate of Employment for release of subsidy.
C. The West Bengal Minorities Development and Finance Corporation will implement soft loan schemes for small business under Term loan schemes, Microfinance (Direct Lending Schemes) and MWEP (Minority Women Empowerment Program). Term loan will be provided to the eligible migrant workers belonging to minority communities who have returned to their native in West Bengal, for carrying out business activities with maximum loan amount up to Rs.5 Lakh. To avail such financial assistance for economic activities under these Schemes, an eligible migrant worker may apply.
D. The State Urban Development Authority under Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department is implementing urban poverty alleviation schemes for vulnerable occupation groups / SHGs/ common interest groups. Eligible Migrant workers may apply for need based collateral free Term loan/Cash credit loan/composite loan/working capital demand loan using the interest subvention model of WBSSP (West Bengal Swanirbhar Sahayak Prakalpa) of Self Help Group & Self Employment Department.
E. The West Bengal SC, ST & OBC Development & Finance Corporation under Backward Classes Welfare Department will implement income generation schemes for SC, ST, OBC & Safai Karmachari communities (18-50 yrs. & having annual family income not exceeding Rs. 3.00 lakh) through concessional finances (loan in easy terms & subsidies). SCP mid-term loan (bank loan & subsidy) for project cost up to Rs. 30,000/- and micro-finance for project cost up to Rs 50,000/- @ 5% ROI will be provided to the eligible migrant workers who have returned to their native places in West Bengal to augment their income.
F. To ensure the continuity of education, admission to government schools will be facilitated for the children of such migrant workers who will return to their native places in mid academic session. Scholarship and other benefits under existing government schemes shall be extended to such children.
5. Social Security
Efforts will be made to extend the benefits of existing state sponsored social security schemes, including health insurance, pension, and other welfare measures, to the beneficiaries and their dependent family members as per their eligibility.
6. Implementation
The Labour Department, Government of West Bengal, shall act as the Nodal Department for implementation of this scheme in coordination with other administrative departments, District Magistrates, Panchayats, industry representatives and competent authority of concerned banks.
This is issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department vide their U.O. No. Group L/2025-2026/0081 dated 07.08.2025.
By order of the Governor,
Sd/- DR. MANOJ PANT
Chief Secretary
to the Government of West Bengal