Poor planning raising vulnerability risk in Mousuni Island

The whole world is abuzz with the effects of Climate Change and policy makers are busy issuing rules, regulations and promises to cut down carbon emission. Fair enough as we concentrate on the urbanized affected communities across the world. But, the moment we focus towards the grassroot victims of Climate Change, the situation takes a different turn and no policies and rules seems to work for them!

Erosion around Mousuni Island

Situation is not different for the worst effected climate victims of Mousuni Island, with population of 22,073 as per 2011 census. Covering an area of 23 sq. km., the small island has 4200 households of which 4136 (19%) belong to the Scheduled Caste and 855 (4%) are Scheduled Tribe.

Located about 100 km towards south of Kolkata, the island has 4 mouzas- Baghdanga, Kusumtala, Baliara and Mousuni under Namkhana Community Development Block, Parganas District, and West Bengal. But this small distance creates a big difference when it comes to even basic amenities like Health, Education, Sanitation and livelihood facilities. 

Mousuni first came to limelight in 2009, when the dreaded cyclone AILA hit the island sweeping away hundreds of houses leaving the coastal communities homeless and landless. Apart from loss of lives and properties, thousands of the islanders lost their livelihood. Since then, about   9 kms of embankment has been breached in western part of the island itself. Every year, a large section of the island gets submerged due to rise in sea level because of the spring equinox and embankment breaching.  The dilapidated embankments are no longer suitable with the changing river dynamics. 

The dilapidated embankment in Baliara

Mansura Bibi, Panchayat Samity member of Mousuni GP

Mansura Bibi, a Panchayat Samilty member of Mousuni GP, says, “At least 150 to 200 families living near the embankment lose their homes and lands every year. We don’t want to relocate as this is land where we were born and grew up. We just want the embankments to be repaired so that it does not get breached every year.”



The major livelihood of the communities here is agriculture and fishing. But the salt water intrusion during coastal flooding causes a huge loss to these major livelihoods. The agricultural lands turn sterile for next 3 to 4 years leaving them with no option of livelihood. Most of them specially the male members of the families end up migrating to other cities in search of odd jobs as labourers. And, the females, who are left alone to take care of the children and elderly in the families, take up  the profession of prawn seed collection, which is again hazardous to the health of the women and the surrounding ecosystem. The constant dragging of nets in salt water causes several skin diseases and gynecological problems among the women. It is reported that about 48 species of juvenile finfishes are wasted per net per day per hand, which amounts to loss of about 9.834 kg.

There is a huge crisis of safe drinking water in the island. The scarcity of potable water is mainly due to high salinity problem.  Mousuni GP has total 150 Tube Wells, which is not enough to fulfill the requirement of the population of more than 22000. During coastal flooding, these Tube wells get inundated and thus they become non-functional even when the water recedes. Pond water is also not safe to drink as they also get inundated by salt water during floods every year.

Saheba Bibi, one of the flood affected victims of Baliara village gush shared that her family had 3 bighas of agricultural land which got washed away in consecutive floods every year. Now, they live on a small shanty on the embankment, which might also get washed away in the next flooding. Her husband opted for fishing after losing the agricultural lands but the fish catch has decreased due to the climate change effects like rising aquatic temperature and the use of fishing gear such as big bull trawlers, mechanized boats, PVC-made trawl, bag nets etc. 

Saheba Bibi and Rozina Khatun

The islanders are yet to get access to grid electricity. Solar power is available to around 55% families who could afford to buy and maintain the solar plates. The rest are dependent on firewood kerosene for cooking and other domestic needs. Kerosene is also not readily available and it is very costly for the islanders. Therefore, the islanders have to perforce to gather fuel wood from the adjoining mangrove forest through illegal means for cooking purposes. Such practice increases vulnerability of the island to natural disaster. 

A large section of the community defecates in open fields due to lack of proper sanitation facilities which again lead to various communicable diseases. The Primary Health center with one visiting doctor and 3 nurses is not enough to support the total population’s healthcare. They visit the island only twice a week. Due to lack of knowledge and non-availability and affordability of the community, the children suffer from malnutrition and pregnant mothers undergo the pain of miscarriages.

Rozina Khatun, a 22 year old woman shared the pain she had to undergo while giving birth to her daughter few months back. The lady had to travel 45 minutes by a motor van though bumpy roads as there is no pucca road or other modes of communication available within the island. The only Primary Health center is situated in Baghdanga village, which doesn’t have good connectivity with the other villages. There are several cases of miscarriage due to the lack of proper healthcare facility and dilapidated road condition. 

SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development), ventured in Mousuni Island after the cyclone in July 2014. Apart from some relief works, the organization distributed salt tolerant paddy varieties to 55 farmers whose agricultural lands were inundated with salt water. This was done with support from the Rice Research Institute, Government of West Bengal. However, this is just a temporary support and cannot come to the rescue of the aggravating situation of the island. 

Sterile agricultural lands of Mousuni Island after salt water intrusion

Hence, a thorough plan with action research needs to be done to address all the issues in a sustainable manner. Starting from safe drinking water, proper energy supply, health, sanitation and alternative livelihood options need to be explored with active community participation and support of local administration. 

Several organizations ventured into the island with some temporary infrastructure support. But, due to lack of sustainable vision and maintenance, they are now in dilapidated condition. The sinking Island needs a foolproof embankment planning with modern technology and design along with infrastructure and livelihood support to protect this vulnerable climate change hot spot from further deprivation. Lack of domestic adaptation policies is also a big hindrance on the way of dealing with the changing climate in Mousuni which needs immediate attention.

Climate Change Effects: Survivors of Sundarban fight against hopeless hopes

The whole world is abuzz with the effects of Climate Change and policy makers are busy issuing rules, regulations and promises to cut down carbon emission. Fair enough as we concentrate on the urbanized affected communities across the world. But, the moment we focus towards the grassroot victims of Climate Change, the situation takes a different turn and no policies and rules seems to work for them!

Here, we are talking about the much talked about coastal Sundarbans, which is one of the worst affected areas of Global Climate Change. Among the 102 islands of Sundarban, Mousuni is one of the 54 islands, which had been inhabited by human population. The island would have never come to focus if the dreaded AILA would not have washed away huge section of it by displacing them from their homes and lands.

 

As we approach towards Mousuni Isalnd

Saheba Bibi, 31 year old women from Baliayara Village of Mousuni Island is one of those displaced communities. Her in-laws were all fishermen by profession and owned agricultural land of 3 bighas. But that demonic AILA washed away all they had. Her father-in-law passed away without getting proper treatment after AILA. The family of seven members including her husband, two children, two brother-in-laws and ailing mother-in-law, spend two and half months in a shanty over the embankment without proper food and safe drinking water. When asked about the relief from the government, the lady was in tears saying that they were not lucky enough to get any yet! 

Saheba Bibi in front of her house

 They were somehow settling with their lost livelihood and properties when cyclone hit them again in 2014 and this time she lost her mother-in-law who couldn’t survive this trauma. Her husband, who was also a fisherman, was not living with them this time as he was in Kerela, working as a labour along with his brothers in a construction house. Like him, hundreds of inhabitants of Sundarban left to Kerela and other places like Andhrapradesh and Gujarat in search of better livelihood. Without any specialized skill, they end up joining as labours in the construction houses, brick fields etc.

Back home, when everything was messed up, the men of the house were far distant place, working 12 hours risking their lives on high rise buildings. Hearing the news of flooding at their homeland, Saheba’s husband decided to return home with the money he earned in 7 months. But the destiny was cruel to him as he faced a dreaded accident while crossing the railway tracks. His legs were injured badly and he returned home empty handed and bruised legs as all money were spent in his treatment.

Saheba showing where house was before AILA

Saheba's Husband

Saheba's husband showing his injured legs

Now, he can neither go for fishing and cannot work as labour too as he has been advised not to take loads on his body. So, the responsibility of running the family has come up on Saheba, who has studied only till 2^nd standard with a mere knowledge of alphabets. When asked about her age, the lady shyly said that she has no clear idea as she was married at a very early age and became mother of two within two years of marriage. Once, owner of 3 bighas of agricultural land and good business of fishing, the family has now just a small shanty near the river which is also under the risk of being washed away if the monsoon turns hostile next year!

The couple has now started business of dry fishes, which has also very low demand in their locality. They merely earn Rs. 150-200 in a week from this business but still hoping to give a better life to their children. Their 14 year old son studies in class 8 in a nearby school and 12 year old daughter is a class 3 dropout who helps her mother in domestic work. They cannot afford to send both the children in school at a time so they choose the boy to study as they girl will be married in next few years!

Saheba, who has keen interest in embroidery (locally known as zari work) used to stitch sarees earlier a year back along with few other women of her neighbourhood. But, the earning was quite low as they used to get around Rs. 150 for a saree and that again had to be divided among 5 women. So, they stopped working that but willing to work on that if they are given better deals. As we were talking to Saheba, we were joined by Mansura Bibi, who is a local Panchyat representative. The lady in her early forties is very agile and is hopeful to have a better life for the women of her locality. She came with a proposal of starting some training sessions for these women who are interested in zari work. However, she didn’t forget to add that how all the women of the village are now living without their men as most of them have migrated to other cities in search of work. She is concerned about the safety of the women and children of her locality as there were many cases of trafficking in the Mousuni Island itself. She added that many were lured in the name of job and marriage without dowry and later they were trafficked in distant cities. However, they have become alert now and prefer to keep their daughters unmarried rather them sending them with an outsider.

Neighbours of Sahenba who also suffered like her and looking forward to a better life and livelihood

There are hundreds others like Saheba, who are struggling daily for two times meal and safe drinking water. The ponds of their locality are intruded with saline water and the water cannot be used for even cleaning the clothes as they turn dirtier after washing. The barren lands will be probably inundated with saline water again in the next monsoon. But, life has not stopped as they continue to struggle and look for good days to return.

Roads for the local Commuters

Another big concern of the women of this locality is healthcare. The only government hospital of their area is situated near Baghdanga village, which is more than 45 minutes journey by bumpy roads and the only option for conveyance is motor van or cycle van. Adding to this trauma, Mansura Bibi said that atleast 5 women of her village have suffered miscarriage as they couldn’t avail proper medical support when it was needed the most.

When we crave for the luxuries of our lives, these coastal women just want a glass of safe drinking water for their families, two times meal and a shelter that guarantees safety during coastal flooding.

Climate Mobilization in West Bengal by SEED

Non-Formal School for Lodha tribe kids of Rudranager GP area of Sagar Is...

Munda Tribes- Challenges and Problems and Support by SEED

The tribes of India, who are considered to be the progenies of primitive inhabitants, constitute a huge section of the total population of the country. As per the 1991 census, the tribal population was 67.76 million, which was not less than the total population of the United Kingdom. With this huge record, India stands at the second position only next to Africa when it comes to tribal population. As per the Constitution of India, they are called Scheduled Tribes (STs), who are spread over across the country. However, their strength varies from a few hundred to lakhs in different states of India.

Munda Tribe women of West Bengal

In West Bengal, the tribes comprise more than 5% of the total population of the state. There are total 38 notified STs in the state, many of whom have been pushed into the periphery in the course of history. Thus, most of them stay isolated from the mainstream society and culture. From 1991 to 2001, West Bengal has registered 15.7 per cent decadal growth of ST population. Among the total tribal population of West Bengal, the primitive Munda tribe constitutes 7.8% of the total population. Originally, this tribal community people were wandering huntsman and collectors. In recent times, few of them have taken up the profession of shifting cultivation following the path of most other tribes of Indian subcontinent. 

A good number of the Munda tribes can be found in a small mouza named Kumar Pukuria, located in Sonarpur block of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Located at a distance of 25 km from the district head quarter, it has the scenario of a remotest and backward village suffering from the need of basic amenities of life. There are three villages in this mouza – Jhinukpara, Kumarpukuria and Nimtala. 

As per census 2001, about 91.4% of the population of Kumarpukuria village belongs to the Scheduled Tribe community and 8.6% is belonging to the Schedule Caste community. Maximum people are either marginal farmers or landless agricultural labour without having any employment in most of the days. It is a poor and one of the most backward class dominating villages of the district. There is no school in this village and the nearest Primary Health Centre is located at a distance of approximately 10 km. 

According to 2011 census, the population of Kumarpukuria is 3,121 with 1,592 males and 1,529 females and there are 739 households. There are 2,530 literates of which males are 1,372 and Females are 1,158 whereas 591 are illiterates. In this mouza, the children below 6 years of age are 285 of which 138 are males and 147 are females. But, most of the adults are agricultural labours which is seasonal in nature. Due to poverty, they are forced to employ their children as daily wage earner. The children are also getting victimized due to the existing situation wasting their valuable youth time required for mental growth through education and play. There is hardly any alternate source of income for the poor tribal villagers. They have no “Bastu” land (land for homestead) of their own. They are living on the vested land for more than 50 years, but till date no official right in the form of patta was awarded to them and thus without any social status. 

As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) of India, about 60% of tribal children under five years are underweight and 59% are stunted and 21% children are wasted. The scenario is not different in case of the children of the Munda tribe of Kumarpukuria who also suffer from malnutrition and anemia in different age groups. The level of underweight ((low weight-for-age), stunting (low height-for-age) and wasting (low weight-for-height) is high among the age group from 0 to 5 years. This adds to the increased rate of morbidity as well as mortality of the tribal children. 

Children of Munda tribe in Sonarpur Block

How could we support?

Education is the key to literacy and the basis of progress for all individuals. It unlocks the potential of children and allows them to maximise their capabilities. But in Kumarpukuria, the poverty-stricken tribal parents cannot afford to send their children to schools for higher education. They are not enough educated themselves to understand the importance of education. For them, the basic livelihood is more important than educating the children. So, it is important to secure their livelihood first to improve their overall situation. 

Hence, we started with this motto of betterment of their socio-economic situation by improving their income generation resources. Initially, we formed JLGs (Joint Liability Groups) among the Munda community with individuals who are interested to get engaged in similar type of economic activity. In this way, the members can support each other to carry out occupational and social activities.  The locality is rich in water bodies like sewage fed canals and ponds.  So, we planned to utilize these water bodies to create livelihood option for them. We taught them the technique of indigenous fish cultivation through ‘induced breeding’ and bamboo PEN culture. The sewage fed canals are rich in nutrients, so the fishes could grow fast naturally. The ‘desi magur’, scientifically known as Clarias batrachus, has a great demand in the Bengal market. So, it is commercially viable to cultivate this species. So it was decided to adopt this technique for several JLGs so that they could earn a better livelihood by fish cultivation. We provided capacity building trainings to train them properly in this technique. At present, they are doing it on their own. 

Women of Munda Community are being trained by fishery experts

Apart from this, we provided capacity building trainings on ‘Animal husbandry’ and distributed ducks, goats, sheep and pigs to the agricultural labours of Kumarpukuria. They were trained how to prepare proper shelter, food and how to take  protection against diseases to the animals along with systematic disposal of animal wastes to maintain healthy environment. In addition to monetary benefits, the animal husbandry can also provide various nutritious food products like eggs, milk and meat. 

Fishery experts offering hand hold training of induced breeding

 

As we have mentioned earlier, many of the Munda tribal children are suffering from nutritional stress leading to increased morbidity and mortality rate. Here, lack of education of mothers play a considerable damaging role. The overall health status of a population depends a lot on the nutritional inputs of a child during the growing period. Stunting in these tribal children is mostly due to maternal under nutrition during pregnancy. An integrated approach was required to address these issues which included health, nutrition, family planning, care for women during and before pregnancy, proper sanitation etc. Hence, we started with educating mothers about the importance of taking care of themselves. We encouraged them for kitchen gardening. The tribal women were informed about the benefits of growing fresh and clean vegetables which would add nutritional value to their daily diet. We tried to make them understand how kitchen gardening would contribute to their food security and they can grow it even in old utensils, empty tins and clay flower pots. The whole family could contribute to this environment friendly practice.

Kitchen Garden by the Munda women

Following this, we continued home counseling visits to motivate them in sending their children to schools, provide them regular nutritious foods through kitchen gardening and taught mothers to cook healthy recipes. We encouraged the Munda tribe women to go for regular health check-ups prior to and after conception and take proper care of their nutritional habits. The tribal communities have mostly relied on traditional remedies and healers even in life threatening health conditions. Our aim was to make them realize that all health conditions cannot be treated traditionally and so they should go to doctors in such situations. 

Tribal beliefs and customs are very rigid and it is not easy to bring them out of their traditional beliefs. So, while trying to influence their behaviors, we took help of folk-based mediums which are more acceptable to them than the usual communicative dialogues. It is a small step towards the upliftment of a tribal community in a Bengal’s small mouza, which we plan to take ahead to other tribal areas of the state too. 

Climate Justice Network in West Bengal initiated by SEED

We all always crave for social, political as well as for economic justice at some point of our lives, if not always. This is quite natural, since these issues are the burning issues in our lives. But, we hardly think that a day will come when we all, irrespective of caste, religion, nation and even economic status will have to raise our voice for Climate justice. Unfortunately, those who are least responsible for the changing climate across the world are falling prey and also the most sufferers of the changing climate.

As popularly described, Climate Justice is a vision to dissolve and alleviate the unequal burdens on the people as a consequence of climate change. It is a movement that emphasizes non-violent direct action and public education to mobilize for effective and just solutions to the burning climate crisis. It aims to offer fair treatment to all people without any kind of discrimination while creating and supporting policies and projects addressing the ill effects of climate change and the systems that create climate change.

Global Climate Change mainly affects the poor indigenous communities, immensely affecting their financial as well as health condition. All human beings have equal right to live and work in a healthy environment. The delicate balance between sea, air and land is greatly threatened by various human induced climate changes and so we need to fight against this menace together.

Sundarban, the largest delta in the world, is one of the worst affected areas by global climate changes. The negative impacts of climate change like extreme natural disasters, heat related illness and death, spreading of infectious diseases, increasing energy costs are fast affecting the coastal communities living here. So, it has also become an ethical issue as these worst affected people are least responsible for the changes in climatic conditions. It is their right and our duty to provide them environmental justice along with social justice. 

The problem of Indian Sundarban will not only affect the coastal community per se, but it will have its effect on the people living in nearby metro cities including Kolkata. As a direct effect of Global warming and consequent sea level rise, mangrove islands of Sundarban are under considerable erosion. Added to this, consistent and continuous people’s interference has already destroyed a large number of deltaic mangroves. As a result, the mangrove forest of Sundarban has become sparse and that way weaker to protect against the cyclones and storms. If this trend of destruction of mangroves continues, the city of Kolkata lying near the Bay of Bengal, will soon face the wrath of huge storms as it will intensify potentially and millions will be affected considerably. Rising sea level will lead to higher tides along the adjoining Hooghly River and thus welcoming a dreaded danger of frequent flooding within the city. So, time has now come when we have to decide and take appropriate actions and steps to keep the ecologically rich Sundarbans in the map and save the people of Kolkata and as also those living in Sundarbans.

Climate change and the rising sea level has already taken toll on two islands of Sundarbans - Supari Bhanga and Lohachara Islands, which have been submerged into the sea. More than 60% of another island, namely Ghoramara, has been eroded out due to stronger waves and river current, also an effect of sea level rise. The homeless inhabitants of these islands have migrated to Sagar Island and they are the environmental refugees now working as landless labourers.

Flood affected Sundarban in the mid of 2014

Flood affected Sundarban in the mid of 2014

According to a recent report of the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), approximately one million people would turn climate change refugees by the year 2050 if the present condition persists. This is an alarming indication for all of us to be prepared for the upcoming worst situation in near future.

Climate Change is now affecting our environment, social routines as well as our daily lives directly or indirectly. Considering all these issues, SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development) has joined hands with people of different strata to make it a bigger joint mission through a forum titled “People’s Alliance for Climate Justice Network in Sundarban’’ to create awareness about climate change and its effects and how can we adapt in a changed scenario to save our life and livelihood through adaptation and at the same time to take part in mitigation measures also.

On 6th October, 2014, SEED invited some environment scientists, social workers, artists, doctors, students from various districts of West Bengal and several CBOs (Community Based Organizations), Sundarban coastal community members, who are the greatest sufferer of the coastal climate change effects. The aim of bringing people of all strata together under this forum was to create a Climate Justice Network in West Bengal, with main focus on Sundarban coastal region. Dr. Kalyan Acharya, Vice President of SEED, who is also a renowned physician and social activist, addressed the gathering and explained the importance of creating a Climate Justice network in the state. The cultural performance of the students which included many songs and poems on environment and Sundarban was well appreciated by the audience. It is a matter of great pride that the songs and poems were all composed by Dr. Acharya himself. The students also shared their thought about environment and their understanding about climate change. Nevertheless to mention that It is absolutely necessary to involve the student community to this Network as they are the future generation who will take care of the environment and will also motivate their families in doing the same.

Children are performing at the event

The aim of this Network will be to strengthen and promote the environmental rights of the indigenous as well as the affected coastal people and to fight the climate crisis together. A regional movement will be started which will later join and culminate into a national as well as international movement for climate justice. It aims to encourage people at all level to take urgent action so as to work together for mitigating the disastrous climate change.

Sundarban, which has been declared as the World Heritage site by United Nations, is extremely rich in flora and fauna and is an ecological hotspot. It is extremely popular in international level for wildlife biodiversity. Unfortunately, the changing climate is taking its toll on the mesmerizing biodiversity of the 104 islands of Sundarban too. The Climate Justice Network will highlight these issues and will make aware local people about the same and motivate them to protect their surrounding biodiversity.

For a complete and systematic transformation of the society, the core socio economic, political as well as ecological issues will be addressed to improve our understanding of the climate crisis. Without any specific political inclination and bias, the Network will work peacefully towards these goals.

It was indeed a pleasure to have renowned professional painter and installation artist Mr. Rupchand Kundu at the event. One of the themes of his works, namely ‘In search of Nature’, took him to the coastal Sundarban. Mr. Kundu has been creating awareness among the general masses through his artistic works with ecofriendly materials. He aims to take back people closer to the nature again who are knowingly or unknowingly constantly destroying the richness of the Mother Nature. He gave a clear message to the admirers of his work that we should avoid using non-degradable items while preparing our art works and most importantly nature is the most beautiful thing which we should protect with all efforts.

Mr. Rupchand Kundu with other participants at the event

With everyone’s support and insistence, Mr. Rupchand Kundu was declared as the Convenor of this forum “People’s Alliance for Climate Justice Network in Sundarban’’.

Mr. Bhabananda Chatterjee, Director of SEED, discussed on the adverse effects of climate change in Sundarban and how we can fight it together in organized manner. He requested everyone to be a part of different awareness programmes which the organization is going to start very soon. The social activists and environment scientists present on the occasion pledged to contribute on their part to aware people about the dreaded effects of climate change and their bleak future in the backdrop of climate change. The general masses will also be motivated to participate in various programmes for effective adaptation and mitigation of the climate change, which is going to affect their locality, life and also livelihood very dearly in near future. 

Mr. Bhabananda Chatterjee addressing at the event

It was proposed and resolved that SEED with the help of the local social activists and environmentalists will organize school level awareness campaigns at various parts of Sundarban. Later, this will be taken to other districts of West Bengal and more people will be associated with this Climate Action Network in West Bengal. This will be open to people of all strata starting from students to professionals who have keen interest and zeal to work for the Climate Justice in their localities.

Professor Jyotiranjan Naskar, President of SEED as also former Head, Department of Zoology, Sreerampur College, who has been working in the field of biodiversity conservation since last two decades, presided over the programme. He shared his valuable experiences of working in the field of biodiversity conservation with the audience. He remarked that the biodiversity conservation and fighting against climate change are interrelated since both the issues affect each other. He also pointed out that the Climate change is already forcing biodiversity to adapt either through shifting habitat, changing life cycles, or the development of new physical traits and in extreme case, get extinct. Mr. Naskar added that biodiversity can support efforts to reduce the negative effects of climate change also. So, if we conserve surrounding biodiversity, it will automatically add to our efforts for reduction of climate change effects.

It is an initiative to provide a platform to all environmentally conscious people to work for its protection. We hope this will motivate others to protect and act for saving their surrounding environment which as a result will help in the mitigation of global climate change in the coming years. We welcome people of all sections to join hands with us in this mission to save our climate and our people. Recently, Indian government has also reconstituted its Climate Change Panel and started active involvement at the global level. So, we can hope for a better policy in the coming days to fight against the climatic menace.

Climate Change Adaptive Measure Efforts by SEED in Agriculture Sector in Sundarbans

The coastal states of India are most affected due to Global Climate change and consequent sea level rise as these states are subjected to various environmental as well as socio-economic pressures due to this factor. Coastal rural community are the major victims of climate change since the natural resources of these states are getting affected and deteriorated due to climate change and the livelihood and daily lives of the coastal community are greatly dependent on these resources. Moreover, these coastal rural communities are regularly facing the threat of climate change at low lying areas adjacent to coast due to their proximity to sea. They usually lack the modern infrastructure, knowledge and resources to fight the climate related challenges. The objective situation clearly points to the fact that the coastal community have a very limited adaptive capacity to these sudden changes. Thus, a substantial adaptation effort is required on consistent basis to lessen the problems of these coastal communities in Sundarban arising from climate change. A sustainable development plan is also required in order to get them involved in the community based adaptation processes.

Now-a-days, the issue of climate change adaptation and sustainable development are inseparable in nature. Development in coastal areas especially in Sundarban comes at a huge cost. Development of any strategy in Sundarban areas depends on the careful consideration of the present and possible future climate change impacts in this region. A long term planning based on a detailed study on vulnerabilities of the local people due to climate change is also required considering livelihood and infrastructure facilities.

The deadly effects of global climate change have been affecting Sundarban Islands in a noticeable manner through the erratic fluctuation of temperature, unseasonal rains, droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather patterns, and high amplitude waves etc., which were unprecedented in Sundarban region a few years back. This results into accelerated coastal erosion and consequent loss of land and property due to flooding, saltwater intrusion, change in distribution pattern and abundance of valuable marine species, loss of habitat and biodiversity. 

Flood affected agricultural lands in Sundarban

Most importantly, the farmers are suffering from low crop yields and in some cases their livelihood is at stake. Apart from supporting them in various adaptation plans in respect of appropriate agriculture, SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development), uses to train them to face the worst scenario as a capacity building exercise and how to fight during such natural disaster condition as a result of climate change.

In the year 2009, the coastal areas of Sundarban were among the worst hit areas due to a huge cyclonic disturbance called Aila, causing loss of considerable life and livestock. Property, land and livelihood of thousands of local people were lost due to such cyclone. Intrusion of salt water into agricultural lands over a vast stretch of areas made them uncultivable. At this time, SEED along with agriculture specialists started working towards finding solutions of this problem of the farmers.

In 2011, training cum workshop was organised by SEED on sustainable agriculture at Bharatgar G.P (one of the worst hit blocks due to Aila in Sundarban) of Basanti Block in Sundarban with support from the Food & Agriculture Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur.  The training was provided to the farmers especially whose lands were inundated by salt water. Since then, SEED was planning to introduce salt tolerant paddy seed varieties to these farmers in a commercial scale.

Training on Sustainable agriculture at Bharatgar GP

In the Year 2012, SEED organised one training cum workshop at Kultali Block of Sundarbans (also a worst hit blocks of Sundarban) with the technical support of Agriculture Department of Calcutta University. Community farming, use of bio-fertilisers and use of bio-pesticides as adaptive measures for climate change were discussed in detail in that workshop. Eminent agriculture scientist, Prof. Ashim Choudhuri was present in this workshop as a resource person. The enthusiasm amongst the local farmers was noticeable.

In the year 2012, SEED organised a training camp on Precision Farming at Shankarpur Gram Panchayat of Baruipur Block of South 24-Parganas. Baruipur block is famous for orchards and the major source of earning of the local farmers is the fruits grown in such orchards and gardens. But, in recent time due to the effects of climate change, the local farmers are greatly affected due to dwindling production. A group of agricultural scientists from Food & Agriculture Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur  including the eminent scientist Dr. A. K. Karan were present there as resource person. The theme discussion was cantered around various methods of combating the problem of reduced production of fruits due to the effect of climate change as an adaptive measure.

  

Agriculture is the major livelihood of the Indian Sundarban communities and the rest are dependent on fishing and aquaculture. Again, paddy is the major crop grown here. The main livelihood option of the coastal Sundarban is under high threat due to the effects of climate change.

Further, the rising sea level makes the situation even worse especially after monsoon. The recent dreaded flood in Sundarbans particularly affecting Mousuni and Sagar Island is an eye opener. Sudden breach of river embankments along vast stretch caused flooding of agricultural lands over extensive areas wherein salt water entered the agricultural fields making them uncultivable for the current year as well as next few years to come. Definitely, such threat will keep increasing as the experts have warned about rise of sea level at a higher level and more severe storms in the coming years. This will be certainly a great challenge for the coastal communities as they will lose their livelihood and livestock in such a situation. As a consequence, it seems that they will be forced to live in a lesser condition of life by way of opting for either fishing or migrating to unskilled labour in nearby cities.

Keeping in view of such a massive threat emanating from climate change effects, the organization planned to offer some basic adaptation techniques to combat this challenge. SEED, which was trying to come up with a solution of growing crops in salt affected land, finally became able to distribute some salt tolerant varieties of paddy seeds in four islands of Sundarban with the support of Rice Research Station, Government of West Bengal. 

Agriculture Scientists and President of SEED with local farmers

Each farmer was given 4 kilograms of the paddy seeds for an initial adaptive trial. This will enable the farmers to grow paddy even in lands affected by salt water. Just a week after this, high tidal surge caused the breach of river embankments in Mousuni and Sagar Island, as described above, flooding extensive areas, destroying houses and inundating vast stretches of agricultural lands with saline water in several villages. As the water is receding now, in these coastal villages of the two islands, the farmers can at least grow paddy with this salt tolerant varieties in their fields which was inundated with salt water and hopefully their livelihood will be maintained with such an endeavour.

Agriculture Scientists (Dr. Kamal Sen and Mr. Soumen Basu) from SEED visited 4 blocks (Tridibnagar village in Jharkhali Island of Basanti Block), (Mousuni Island in Namkhana Block), (G-Plot in Pathar Pratima Block), (Muriganga 1 GP in Sagar Island) of Sundarbans and provided on farm support to the farmers. The seeds were distributed to about 100 farmers of the four islands, who had experienced salt water inundation in their agricultural fields earlier during cyclonic season. The salt tolerant paddy seed varieties like Jarva, Bina 8, Bina 10, GS5, GS9, RP Bio4919-50-13, Luna Barial, Luna Subarna, Amalman etc. were distributed to the farmers. Apart from these, some scented varieties of paddy seeds like Dadshal, Govinda Bhog, Shitabhog, Radhuni Pagol, Badsha Bhog and China Kamini were distributed amongst few farmers so that they can do good business by selling these costly varieties of rice.

Salt Tolerant Paddy seeds being packed 

36 villagers of Mousuni Island were handed over these salt tolerant varieties of seeds. Among them, Farida Baig was the only female farmer whose agricultural land was badly affected by saline water. She is the head of the family and has to work in the field to earn two meal for her family.

Mohammad Illias, the Gram Pradhan of Mousuni Island thanked SEED for taking this initiative to support the farmers of his village. He said that some of the farmers were left with no other option but to migrate to nearby areas so as to work as daily labourer as their lands have turned saline. But with the availability of such salt tolerant variety, they can now again go back to the farming work.

Sukumar Pattnaik is one of the beneficiaries of Pathar Pratima Block, who lost his all hopes of farming again after Cyclone Aila. Now, he is happy to get this salt tolerant variety of paddy seeds and hopes to get a good yield of crop this year.

Paddy seeds being measured before distribution

Sujan Mondal of Jharkhali Island said that he will 
distribute the seeds to his fellow farmers in next farming season if he gets good result this year.

In Sagar Island,  some of the farmers are in possession of considerable amount of agricultural lands but more than half of it has now turned saline after cyclone Aila and due to annual breach of river embankments. 56 year old farmer Biman Mondal is one such farmer whose 3 bighas of land has turned uncultivable as it got inundated by salt water. He is now cultivating only in the rest 2 bighas of land he owns. Now, he hopes to cultivate in the other 3 bighas too after getting the salt tolerant paddy seeds. He said that his financial condition has deteriorated due to sudden shrinkage of farming land, but he is looking forward to bring his good days back once again.

Unlike others, 55 year old farmer Sukhdeb Patra sounded very low as his son had to leave his studies midway because of this climate change effects since considerable amount of his agricultural land got flooded with salt water thus leaving him penniless for two years.

Farmers after receiving the paddy seeds and one female farmer in her paddy field in Mousuni Island

We cannot assure to bring back their good days all on a sudden in a single go. But we sincerely believe that this small effort will provide them a little support to their livelihood. 

Agriculture Scientists monitoring the paddy farms

The change in climatic condition is not fully in our control but we can at least try our level best to adapt with such changes and look forward to a better life for these coastal communities. However, it will not be limited to paddies only. We will definitely try to provide them salt tolerant seeds of other crops too in near future.