Vetiver Grass introduced first time in Sundarban for protection of Coastal River Embankment

Sundarban, the UNESCO recognised World heritage centre and Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal, has always been prone to coastal floods and cyclone and it has been a challenge to protect the coastal river embankment from these natural disasters. With an aim to offer a sustainable solution to this natural disaster problem and river embankment problem, SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development), has first time introduced vetiver grass (locally known as Binna) in Jharkhali Island of Sundarban on 6^th April, 2014.

The organisation has been working in field of biodiversity conservation and the rehabilitation of the climate change refugees of Sundarban, since last 4 years. The introduction of vetiver grass in Sundarban has been initiated by Dr. Kalyan Acharya (MBBS, Physician), Professor Jyotiranjan Naskar (Eminent Environmentalist) and Mr. Bhabananda Chatterjee (Coastal Livelihood Specialist) from SEED. They have been devoted to protect the coastal environment of Sundarban and its inhabitats. The first set of vetiver grass was sown in Tridibnagar area of Basanti Block in Jharkhali Island. The Jharkhali GP has recently provided land to build up a resource centre and a Marine biodiversity conservation centre for the vulnerable coastal community in Tridibnagar. The local community has whole heartedly supported this initiative. Initially, this particular region has been chosen to start this embankment protection plan. Later on, the organisation plans to extend it to other parts of the island.

Dr. Kalyan Acharya says, “We have introduced vetiver grass first time in Sundarban Island to offer a cost effective solution to the existing coastal river embankment protection problem. It has been successfully tested and applied in Bangladesh and we hope to make it a success in India too. Apart from this, if vetiver grass is grown at larger scale, it can offer an alternative livelihood solution to the coastal community through its multipurpose use feature. The local people can use vetiver grass for thatching the roofs of their house, can use it as their animal fodder and also use it for preparing various handicraft items as well as for medicinal purpose.”

The vetiver grass can help in stabilising soil and protect it against erosion. It also protects fields against pests and weeds and has favourable qualities for animal feed. It can protect coastal river embankments in Sundarban against high tidal surge. Studies have shown that the shear strength of the rooted soil is 87% and it is 770% higher than the soil without vetiver roots. It is an environment friendly solution for protection of the coastal embankments against cyclonic tidal surge in Sundarban. 

Vetiver Grass being sown in Sundarban's Jharkhali Isalnd

 Lots of attempts for protecting embankments in the Sundarban Islands have failed during the natural disasters. For example, the use of geobags, geotextile, concrete blocks, plantation and stone or wood revetments are very expensive and in several cases, these have not been effective enough to protect the embankments during their designed lives.

Though the vetiver grass originated in India, more than 100 countries are using the long rooted vegetation for protection of these embankments. These are cost effective and can be naturally grown in the soil of Sundarban islands. It can also easily sustain in such soil conditions. Vetiver grass has been used by some other coastal region of India as well as by the Bangladesh part of Sundarban. But somehow, the Indian Sundarban has remained negligent or say unaware about this valuable grass.

Men have least control over natural disasters but we can atleast try to minimise the loss due to these hazards by cultivating these low cost vetiver grass. It simply creates a vegetative barrier of rigid and deeply rooted bunch of grass. The shoots of the grass grow from the underground crown thus making the plant frost- and fire-resistant. Hence, it can survive heavy grazing pressure. The stems grow very close and help to block the runoff of surface water. It increases the amount of water absorbed by the soil by slowing water’s flow velocity. The vetiver grass also reduces evaporation and increases water infiltration thereby guarding soil moisture in hot as well as dry conditions. The cultivation of vetiver grass will also help in the strengthening and sustainability of the farming system in Jharkhali Island’s rainfed areas.

At this time, when climate change and global warming is hugely affecting the Sundarban islands, the cultvation of vetiver grass can come as a great relief with its multiple environment friendly features.

Educational and Health support to the children of Tiger Attack victims of Jharkhali Island

Jharkhali Island is ecologically one of the most important islands of Sundarbans delta (the largest mangrove forest in the world) because of its rich biodiversity. It is strategically located between the rivers Matla and Bidya. The island was hugely affected by the cyclone AILA in 2009. Several families lost their homes and the land of many people got salinated affecting the growth of agricultural crops. Moreover, due to sea level rise, continuous land erosion and mangrove destruction becoming another big challenge for the people of the island.  

The main livelihood source for males of Jharkhali Island is collecting honey, fire wood from mangrove forest, catching crabs from river. And for females and children it is collecting prawn seeds from the river. Literacy level of the people of the island is very negligible and most of the kids are first generation learners with very poor economical background. In last one year, almost 10 people have died and many other got injured due to tiger attack while entering illegally in the mangrove forest of Sundarbans. They hardly get any financial support from government to come out of this dangerous profession. The families of tiger attacked victims also hardly get any compensation after the accidental deaths. Thus, they are left with no other option but to send their children for prawn seed collection, leaving their education midways.

Prawn seed collecting women

 SEED (Society for Socio Economic and Ecological Development) has started four non-formal coaching centers to support these economically backward class children in Basanti Block of Jharkhali Island.  The education centers are run under temporary shed with a very minimum fee from the children. Some of them are unable to pay even a small amount of the fee so they are offered total free coaching. A total number of 76 students are attending these education centers. These students are studying from Class III to Class IX. At present, we have just four teachers, who have agreed to offer their service at a minimum salary. 
But, this is not enough as there are many other students who are willing to join the education centers but due to lack of enough teachers and sitting facility, we are unable to enroll them. They are very enthusiastic learners with dreams of continuing their higher studies.

As told earlier, Jharkhali Island dwellers are victim of frequent attacks of tigers when they go for poaching, fire wood collection and honey collection from the mangrove forest. Those who survive the attack cannot afford a good treatment. Thus, most of them turn handicapped for life. So, even though they are alive, they become rather burden for their families. While entering the forest illegally, they are also attacked by snakes and it is almost a regular problem for them. But, due to lack of education and proper health awareness, they do not approach doctors rather they prefer to go for traditional treatment processes like visiting an ‘Ojha’ (who is not a certified doctor and uses herbals and amulets). 

A tiger attack victim  with his wife at Tridibnagar in Jharkhali Island

Dr. Kalyan Acharya of SEED, who is very enthusiastic to serve the needy people, has recently started a health programme for these people. The organisation has established a central health centre for the people of Tridibnagar area in Basanti Block of Jharkhali Island. Dr. Acharya has trained the community people about preventive healthcare and treatment of basic health issues like fever, cold, cuts etc. They are also taking guidance from a specialist health worker of the center. In case of bigger health issues, they can take advice from Dr. Acharya, who keeps visiting the island on a regular basis. But, it is tough to manage the cost of these medicines alone by SEED. So, we are looking forward for a financial support to afford the costly medicines to offer free treatment to these needy people.

We have two more non-formal education centers in Diamond Harbour Block II of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Here also, we are running the education system in a temporary shed due to lack of financial support. Three teachers are teaching total 50 students with their best possible capacity. Apart from regular classes, these students are also taken for outdoor visits like recently they were taken to Alipore Zoo in Kolkata to learn about the wildlife from very close. They are also offered nutritious meal sometimes as most of them are unable to afford them. 

We are also maintaining a biodiversity conservation center to promote awareness on conservation of nature and environment among the school children and others.

These six education centers are run by SEED without any outside financial support. However, we can provide better service if we get financial support to help these kids to fulfill their dreams of higher studies and a better life unlike their parents, who never went to school.  

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