When America deported Indians, including a large number of Punjabis, back to India on a large scale last year, in 2025, it seemed that illegal migration would now stop and young people would stay here and earn a livelihood. But despite so many restrictions, the craze among the youth for going abroad, either directly or indirectly, has still not reduced. The situation has become such that today, the ‘status symbol’ has taken away hundreds of young men from Punjab.
Illegal migration has become an extremely bitter, painful and tragic reality of the existence and fate of today’s Punjabi person. Today, every average young person in Punjab is desperate to go abroad, legally or illegally, especially to European countries, America, Canada and Britain. The desire to go abroad has mixed so deeply into Punjab’s atmosphere that it has shaken our social and economic fabric.
When going abroad through legal means, such as IELTS or a student visa, is not possible, Punjabi youth become ready to adopt illegal means, meaning a “short cut”. This short cut is now known in its most dangerous form as the “Dunki process” or Donkey Route. This race does not involve only the youth; their parents, relatives and other close ones also blindly become ready to offer every kind of help to send them “abroad”.
Every year, hundreds of Punjabi young men lose their lives on unknown routes.
In the hope of changing the family’s economic fate, maintaining social prestige and securing a golden future for their children, parents put their lifetime savings at stake, mortgage or sell their land. The full benefit of this situation is taken by the vast international web and network of human traffickers, or travel agents, who lure young people and parents with dreams of the glittering life abroad. From here begins an extremely painful, dangerous, terrifying journey, hanging between life and death.
This journey passes through routes such as the dense forests of Latin America, Colombia’s Darién Gap, or the borders of Europe, where death stands at every step. The end of this journey may be a prosperous life, or it may be the terrifying truth called “death”. Every year, hundreds of Punjabi young men die on these unknown routes, and many do not even get their bodies back.
Solutions to save Punjabi youth from the Dunki Route
To stop this tragedy, we must go to its roots. Punjabi youth can be pulled out of this swamp not merely through emotion, but only by framing solid policies at the ground level. The biggest reason for migration is the lack of good employment in Punjab. Young people must be given the confidence that they can live a good life in their own country through their hard work. New industries and IT hubs should be established in the state, where even less-educated youth can do small jobs and support their families.
Along with this, the government should also help young people at the ground level. For self-employment, youth should be given loans and subsidies at zero interest or very low interest, so that instead of paying Rs 40-50 lakh to agents, they can start their own businesses here.
It must be said that our present education system is distributing degrees, but not jobs. Vocational education should be made compulsory at the school and college level itself. Young people should be taught skills that are legally in demand in India and abroad, so that they do not need to choose illegal routes.
A mindset has developed in Punjabi society that “going abroad is the only sign of success”. This illusion must be broken. Special awareness camps should be organised in villages and towns, where young people, and especially parents, are informed about the dangers of the Dunki Route and the painful stories of jungles and jails. Parents must be made to understand that their child’s life is more valuable than any “status symbol”.
Governments will also have to play an important role.
The role of the central and state governments is most important in solving this international problem. The network of illegal agents has spread to every corner of Punjab. Governments should adopt a zero-tolerance policy against them. Cases should be registered under non-bailable sections against those running unlicensed or fake travel agencies, and they should be given swift and strict punishment through fast-track courts. A special police task force should be formed against human trafficking, which should monitor illegal advertisements running on social media.
The government itself should become a safe bridge for young people who wish to go abroad. Through its own official agencies, such as the Labour Development Corporation, the government should directly coordinate to provide overseas employment to youth. The central government should sign work visa and migration agreements with other countries, such as European nations, so that less-educated or skilled workers can also go abroad legally and affordably.
Making agriculture and allied occupations profitable
Punjab is an agriculture-dominated state, but farming becoming a loss-making occupation is forcing young people to sell land and run abroad. The government should bring diversification in agriculture and guarantee assured prices for crops. Allied occupations such as dairy farming, food processing and organic farming should be made attractive for youth by giving major subsidies.
The dream of Punjabi youth to go abroad is not a crime. But paying for that dream with one’s life is a huge foolishness and tragedy. Death routes like the Dunki Route are swallowing Punjab’s youth and turning Punjab’s villages into homes of the elderly.
To remove this wound, governments will have to show political will through employment and a strict legal system, and society will have to change its mindset. Until Punjab’s own soil offers respect for the skills of its youth and a guarantee of livelihood, it will be difficult to stop this frightening migration.
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