Jharkhali, West Bengal – As June dawns, the women of Jharkhali in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, wake up with a purpose. They start their day by gathering mangrove seeds, carefully placing them in nursery bags. Over the next three months, these seeds will grow into saplings. When they are ready, the dedicated volunteers of Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB) will plant them, creating a vital shield against the cyclones that threaten their homes.
This grassroots initiative has become a lifeline for the region, significantly mitigating the impacts of nature’s fury. “The plantation is done between October and January. Each volunteer dedicates about two hours daily to plant nearly 200-250 saplings,” shares Kalpana Sardar, a 45-year-old eco-warrior who has been part of JSB since 2021 and has planted thousands of mangrove saplings.
Under the leadership of Akul Biswas, a visually-challenged pioneer, over 200 JSB members from 23 villages have collectively planted millions of mangrove saplings. “We have managed to tame the floods and cyclonic destruction due to this practice,” explains Sardar, a mother of two. Mangroves serve as natural barriers against flooding and waves during cyclones, with their roots firmly holding the soil and preventing landslides.
ALSO READ: Retired Engineer Cracks Code to Grow World’s Most Expensive Crop at Home
A Visionary’s Legacy
Akul Biswas, despite his visual impairment, has been a beacon of inspiration for the locals. It was Biswas who first encouraged the community to plant mangroves after observing the devastating effects of cyclones on less vegetated areas of the Sundarbans. Over fifteen years later, his vision has flourished into a robust movement of eco-warriors.
“The Sundarbans region, characterized by its unique landscape and tidal influences, faces severe threats from climate change, including rising sea levels and increased cyclone intensity,” explains Biswas. The region is also home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and diverse mangrove species, including the Sundari, Gewa, and Keora trees.
The villages in the Sundarbans are predominantly inhabited by scheduled caste communities, resettled from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1957. “Our forefathers migrated from Khulna in 1952 and were eventually settled here by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Ray, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal,” Biswas recounts.
Community Resilience in Action
In 2005, Biswas started planting mangrove saplings along the Bidyadhari River with a few children. Gradually, homemakers, disabled individuals, senior citizens, and ‘tiger widows’—women who lost their husbands to tiger attacks—joined the cause, forming what is now the JSB. Today, more than 200 homemakers are part of this eco-warrior brigade.
ALSO READ: From Orphanage to IAS: B. Abdul Nasar’s Inspiring Journey in Civil Service
“The Sundari mangrove, dominant here, is crucial for the region’s biodiversity, providing a habitat for numerous species and adapting to the saline environment,” notes Nivash Golder, a resident of Jharkhali and leader of a JSB group.
Battling Nature’s Wrath
The efforts of the JSB have borne fruit. “When Cyclone Yaas hit in May 2021, it inundated several coastal villages but failed to breach the river banks of Jharkhali, thanks to our mangrove plantations,” says Biswas. This resilience contrasts starkly with other areas that suffered severe damage.
Surrounded by the Matla, Bidyadhari, and Herobhanga rivers, Jharkhali is highly cyclone-prone. The community has endured cyclones like Aila (2009), Fani (2019), Bulbul (2019), and Amphan (2020). Ranjan Mondol, a former village head, highlights that around 500,000 mangrove saplings have been planted over 100 hectares, contributing to Jharkhali’s relative safety.
Despite facing financial challenges and limited resources, Biswas continues to motivate locals for afforestation, rehabilitating ‘tiger widows’, and raising environmental awareness. He also runs a coaching center in a makeshift tent for children and mothers who had to leave school.
Sustaining Livelihoods and Ecosystems
The rising sea levels and cyclones have severely impacted agriculture and fishing, the primary livelihoods in the Sundarbans. This has led to forced migration, with many locals working as agricultural laborers in Kolkata and other states.
ALSO READ: From Tea Seller To IAS Officer: The Inspiring Journey Of Himanshu Gupta
Efforts to support the community and environment have been bolstered by NGOs like the Kolkata-based Society for Socio-Economic and Ecological Development (SEED), which has been active since 2008. SEED operates six mangrove nurseries and provides livelihood support to ‘tiger widows’, including installing micro-solar domes and encouraging fruit plantations.
In recent months, SEED has partnered with the Ireland-based Tiger Widows Organisation to enhance JSB’s mangrove planting efforts. “With more livelihood support, we could encourage more women to join as eco-warriors and protect the fragile Sundarbans,” says Biswas.
The relentless efforts of these eco-warriors underscore the power of community action in combating climate change and protecting vulnerable ecosystems. The story of Jharkhali’s women and their mangrove plantations is a testament to resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.
