According to a recent survey by ODI, UK, Delhi is the top destination for the migrants for Biharis. In spite of having the financial capital of India, Mumbai, in its midst, Biharis do not find Maharashtra even among the top five destinations for migration. Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are the other destinations preferred by the Biharis.
What is noteworthy is that this survey pertains to 2005-06 and hence a period which precedes the recent anti Bihari tirade. Another study by TISS and IPSS had estimated the migrants from Bihar to Maharashtra to a puny 2.3% and 3.5% of the new migrants to Mumbai respectively.
All this makes one wonder what is all this fuss about Biharis swamping Mumbai and changing its culture. Are these just political gimmicks?
