Behind the Perumbavoor fish market lies a bustling commercial stretch, a wide corridor flanked by rows of small shops. On one side, more than a dozen haircutting saloons operate in a line, all run by migrant workers catering primarily to fellow workers from their home states. On the other side are mobile phone stores and narrow lanes that lead to clusters of migrant settlements in the town. The steady stream of workers from other states gives the area the feel of a familiar street from the towns they left behind. In several parts of Perumbavoor, similar pockets evoke the atmosphere of towns in West Bengal or Assam.

One such area is Bengal Market in Kandanthara, located about 1km from the town. The settlement, home to around 5,000 migrant workers, many of them from Murshidabad in West Bengal, has grown steadily over the past 15 years. Residents say life in the area had largely remained peaceful until recently, when tensions surfaced following an alleged assault on two migrant workers by a group of locals who suspected them of involvement in illegal activities such as drug peddling and flesh trade.

Locals claim that certain unlawful activities have been taking place in the area. “Migration from states such as Assam and West Bengal began here nearly 15 years ago. The vast majority of migrant workers are ordinary people engaged in daily wage jobs, but a small number are believed to be involved in drug peddling and flesh trade,” said K M Anasar, a resident of Kandanthara.

He said the situation has evolved over the past few months. “Earlier, such activities, if any, largely remained confined within migrant groups themselves. But recently, people, mostly Malayali youth from other parts of the district and the state, have been coming here allegedly in search of drugs or prostitution. When locals started questioning their presence, tensions began to rise,” he said.

Bengal Market has developed into a self-contained neighbourhood with eateries serving regional cuisines and residential buildings housing migrant workers. Residents estimate that around 40 such buildings exist in the area, straddling the administrative boundaries of Vengola and Vazhakkulam grama panchayats.

Though most of these buildings fall within Vazhakkulam panchayat limits, residents of neighbouring Vengola say they experience the social fallout of alleged illegal activities in the vicinity. “There have been instances of local residents clashing with people from other parts of the district who arrive in the area for drugs or prostitution,” said Eldhose Kunnappilly, MLA representing the Perumbavoor assembly constituency.

Following the recent incident, Perumbavoor police registered cases against some locals accused of assaulting migrant workers suspected to be involved in illegal activities. Around the same time, residents erected a Malayalam signboard warning that those arriving in the area in search of drugs or prostitution would be confronted.

Police later removed the board, stating that it amounted to taking the law into one’s own hands. However, locals maintain that the warning was not directed at migrant workers. “The signboard was meant to deter people from outside who come here seeking illegal services. If it was against migrant workers, it would not have been written in Malayalam,” said a resident.

At the same time, concerns have been raised that migrant workers are being treated as second-class citizens. Benoy Peter, executive director of the Centre for Migrants and Inclusive Development, an organization working with migrant communities, pointed out that migrant workers often face marginalization despite playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

“Though several sectors in Kerala would come to a grinding halt without migrant workers, they are still being treated as second-class citizens. The irony is that Keralites who have migrated to other parts of the world often face similar situations. Even the term ‘guest workers’, coined by the state govt, is discriminatory as it reinforces a sense of exclusion. Rather than guest workers, they should be referred to as workers from other states,” he added.

“There are broadly two categories of migrant workers in Perumbavoor, those who live here with their families and those who stay alone while their families remain in their home states. In Bengal Colony, most residents are single men who support families back home. The Murshidabad–Perumbavoor corridor is among the significant internal migration routes in the country,” he said.

He also noted that while issues such as drug abuse and flesh trade may have existed in the area for some time, they alone may not explain the recent tensions. “There is a possibility that vested interests are attempting to stir up such concerns in the run-up to elections,” he said.

The situation highlights gaps in coordination among various govt departments and local bodies responsible for migrant welfare and urban planning. “Several residential buildings in the area have reportedly been built on reclaimed paddy fields, sometimes without mandatory licences, including fire safety clearances. Many of these structures house up to 10 workers in small rooms, with each occupant paying a monthly rent ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500,” said K K Shinaj, a local resident. Inadequate sanitation facilities and the discharge of wastewater into nearby canals have also been cited as concerns.

Public health officials, meanwhile, are grappling with another challenge linked to migrant mobility. Data from the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) shows that of the 934 HIV cases reported across the state between April and Dec 2025, over 25% involved migrant workers. Health experts said the concern is not merely the proportion of cases, but the difficulty in ensuring continuity of care among a highly mobile population. “One of the major problems we face is tracing migrant workers after they test positive for HIV. Fake ID cards and frequent movement due to the nature of their work makes follow-up difficult,” said Peeyush Namboodiripad, director of KSACS. KSACS is now planning an awareness campaign targeting migrant populations, with Perumbavoor identified as the pilot location.

Earlier initiatives, including the proposed issuance of health cards and the preparation of a migrant worker registry by police in coordination with labour and local self-govt departments, remain incomplete. As Perumbavoor continues to grow as a major hub for interstate migration, stakeholders say a coordinated approach involving welfare measures and community engagement will be crucial to ensuring both social harmony and the well-being of migrant workers.

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