For years, Punjab has been at the heart of India’s migration story, with its youth chasing dreams of a better life abroad. A symbol of this aspiration was the practice at a gurdwara in Jalandhar’s Talhan village, where devotees offered toy airplanes as prayers for successful emigration. Though this practice has now been discontinued, its past media coverage painted Punjab as a land of prosperity and ambition. However, beneath this glossy narrative lies a harsh reality—one where families are burdened with debt, youth risk their lives through illegal migration, and communities face an uncertain future.
The desire to go abroad is deeply rooted in economic aspirations. Many families, especially in rural Punjab, take enormous loans from moneylenders to finance their children’s foreign education or travel, believing it to be a sure-shot investment for a better future. But the journey is fraught with peril. Those who can’t afford legal routes often fall prey to unscrupulous agents who promise them entry into developed countries through the illegal “donkey” route—an arduous and dangerous journey through multiple borders.
The recent deportation of 104 Indians from the US has exposed the darker side of this trend. Families that had pinned all their hopes on their children’s success abroad now face an economic nightmare, struggling to repay loans taken for migration. Some have been left destitute, while others grapple with the social stigma of failure.
Beyond the personal tragedies, mass migration has caused demographic and economic shifts within Punjab. Many villages have been hollowed out, with young men and women leaving en masse, creating a population imbalance and weakening local economies. Those left behind face a lack of job opportunities, exacerbating social issues and economic stagnation.
While the Punjab government has claimed to be taking steps to curb brain drain, its efforts remain inadequate. Migration is a natural phenomenon, and experts argue that instead of attempting to halt it entirely, the government should focus on channeling it through safer, legal avenues. Providing youth with legitimate consultancy services, career counseling, and foreign job placement programs would prevent them from resorting to illegal means.
More importantly, the government must step in to regulate and sponsor these services, ensuring that young aspirants do not fall prey to scamsters. Policies should encourage skills-based training, creating opportunities both within Punjab and abroad through legal migration channels. Without such interventions, the cycle of debt, desperation, and deception will only continue.
Punjab’s youth deserve better than a lifetime of debt for a dream that often turns into a nightmare. It is time for a pragmatic approach—one that acknowledges migration as an economic reality while ensuring it happens safely and sustainably.
