by Hafizur Rahman
March 16, 2026
Thousands of Rohingya refugees living in India are facing serious hardships due to the lack of legal recognition as refugees, leaving many without access to stable employment, banking services, and basic protections.
An estimated 40,000 Rohingya refugees currently live in India. Many fled violence and persecution in Arakan, Myanmar and later settled in areas near major cities such as New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Jammu. Most families live in small informal settlements and depend on unstable daily work to survive.
Refugees say the absence of government issued identity documents is one of their biggest challenges. Without official identification, many Rohingya cannot secure stable jobs or access essential services.
Sohail Khan, a Rohingya refugee living in the Shaheen Bagh area of New Delhi, said he once hoped to pursue a professional career after studying psychology. Instead, he now runs a small handicraft stall because many employers refuse to hire workers who lack official identification documents.
India does not have a national refugee law and is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Because of this, Rohingya refugees mainly rely on identity cards issued by the United Nations refugee agency. However, these documents are often not accepted by employers or financial institutions.
A Rohingya refugee named Amina Khatoon, who has lived in India for more than ten years, said employers frequently ask for a national identity number known as Aadhaar before offering jobs. Without this document, many Rohingya struggle to find stable work.
As a result, many Rohingya refugees work in the informal sector. Some earn a living through daily construction labor, collecting scrap materials, or selling small goods on the streets. However, this work is often unstable and sometimes exploitative.
Mohd Zubair, another Rohingya worker, said he was once denied his wages after an employer discovered that he did not have official identification documents.
The lack of legal documentation also prevents Rohingya refugees from opening bank accounts or using digital payment services. Many families are forced to rely entirely on cash, making it difficult to save money or improve their financial conditions.
In addition to economic challenges, Rohingya refugees in India also live with constant fear of arrest or deportation. Human rights groups say some Rohingya have been detained even while holding refugee cards issued by the United Nations.
Experts say the situation reflects a broader regional crisis. Since the mass displacement of Rohingya people in 2017, more than one million Rohingya refugees have been living across South and Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh, but also in countries such as India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Human rights organizations have called on governments and international bodies to ensure stronger legal protections, access to employment, and safety for Rohingya refugees.
Without long term solutions, many Rohingya families may continue to live in poverty and uncertainty for years to come.
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