Card to keep track of migrants

TT, Jalpaiguri: The Jalpaiguri district administration has joined hands with Unicef to prepare "self-migration cards" as part of a plan to create a database on people migrating to other districts and states for work.

"A section of people, mainly youths, are moving out of their homes and travelling to other states for work. But in many cases, their family members are approaching us and the police after some time, particularly when they could not contact the person. That is why it has been decided to prepare such cards," said Sanjib Rakshit, the district social welfare officer of Jalpaiguri.

For this exercise, elected representatives at the panchayats in rural areas and civic councillors in towns will be roped in, he said.

Administrative sources said the cards will be with the village level child protection committees, which have been formed across the district. Unicef will help the administration in carrying out the exercise.

The panchayat member or the councillor will keep a tab on each household and in case anybody is migrating for job, they will fill up the card with his photo, contact number, address of workplace and other details and will submit it to the committee.