Why was it more difficult to rehabilitate refugees in West Bengal as compared to Punjab after partition? (Answer in 250 words)

Factors easier to rehabilitate in Punjab:

(i) Kinship Ties: were stronger due to shared Sikh religion

(ii) Stronger Military Presence in Punjab due to stationed Gorkha regiment

(iii) Reliable Food Prospect: to feed refugees due to better Punjab agriculture productivity

(iv) Proximity to Delhi: to coordinate & ensure peace & comfort to refugees

Factors easier to rehabilitate in Punjab (continued):

(i) Lower Rate: in Punjab as compared to Bengal due to military & civil administration

(ii) Better Planning: by officials to receive, rehabilitate & reintegrate refugees in society. Housing, food, health camps.

Factors making West Bengal more difficult to rehabilitate:

(i) Widespread Communal Violence: due to high population of Hindu & Muslim & great anger in people due to communal partition (Reminiscent of Noakhali, Kolkata Killings)

(ii) Porous Border: Facilitating movement & violence by people on both sides

(iii) General Pavet & Deprivation: due to impoverished people in Bengal due to cruel taxation (Permanent Settlement)

Factors making West Bengal more difficult to rehabilitate (continued):

(iv) Inadequacy of Basic Needs: due to poor availability of Baygrams (1943 Bengal Famine)

(v) Communalization: by political leaders inflamed & created hatred. (E2 Calcutta Riots, 1945)

(vi) Poor Law & Order: due to inadequate deployment of military & police

(vii) Surrounded by India: on all side except long border in Bengal.

— Aditya Mathur · AIR 98