“But since December, the remittances arriving at our bank have plunged,” said an official from the United Bank of India’s Gangadhari branch, asking not to be named. December is when the Union government’s citizenship thrust gained momentum and fears about a countrywide NRC exercise began spreading. Their return has closed fish and meat shops in the village, depleted household meals and shrunk garment sales. Home to three primary schools, a madarsa and a post office apart from the bank, Gangadhari, abutting the Karimpur-Behrampore state highway, could till recently have been said to have its daily affairs sorted out. Apart from gutting the village economy, the migrants’ return has lent a subdued air to Gangadhari, now fallen back on the not-so-lucrative occupation of farm labour for survival.

Source: The Telegraph January 24, 2020 21:11 UTC