The Sundarban is the largest river delta on this planet. It stretches from the South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal to Bangladesh. It encompasses numerous rivers and islands.

There are many islands that are inhabited by humans. Life in these remote areas is very difficult. They face both economic and existential crises.

People in this area are mostly dependent on natural resources for their livelihood. With the increase in population, pressures build up on natural resources. Fishing and the collection of honey and timber are the primary sources of income for the inhabitants of this area. They dare the man-eater tiger to enter the forest for honey or fishing. Every year, many people are killed by the striped beast.

As part of the conservation effort, many areas are being declared reserve forests or sanctuary. So human interference in those areas is being restricted. 

In search of a steady income, many youths in Sundarban are becoming migrant workers. Women had to take care of the kids alone, as their husbands spent most of the time outside. Reports of human trafficking have also surfaced in recent times. 

There are other problems afflicting these villages, like marriage at a young age and becoming a mother as an adolescent. Fertility rates in these remote villages are also pretty high. So often nutrition and education of those children’s are being neglected. 

Most villages in Sundarban are guarded by weak earthen dams. So in the event of a high tide or cyclone, river waters enter the villages. This salty river water made agricultural land alkaline. Those lands become unsuitable for most crops. 

People in this village of Sundarban live anxiously whenever there is news of a high tide or cyclone. In recent times, the number of cyclones has increased in this region.

Starting with cyclone Aila in 2009, it devastated the Sundarban in terms of human casualties and loss of agricultural land. In the following years, cyclones Bulbul, Yass, and Amphan ran havoc in the Sundarban. Many villages went under water. People lost their land, cattle, and all their belongings. In many cases, the whole village was submerged under water for many days.

In those villages, there are still many raw huts made of mud. These mud houses are often collapsed in heavy rain or storms, resulting in the loss of human life.

In recent times, authorities have taken many steps to minimise human casualties. People from vulnerable areas normally shift to rescue shelters. 

In the event of the submersion of villages, villagers face an acute shortage of drinking water. This leads to the spread of many water-borne diseases. 

Sundarban acts as a natural barrier for cyclonic storms. This mangrove forest preserves unique flora and fauna. Climate change poses a threat to this ecosystem. 

A multi-pronged long-term initiative is required for the improvement of the living conditions of the people of Sundarban.