Rehabilitation for Cyclone Affected Communities

Sunderbans –the vast deep region and natural heritage sight enriched with rich resources of Flora and Fauna often gets affected with severity of nature, fast changing climatic and ecological order often leaving deadly impacts to humanity and all living creatures.  

In this context, ‘Sabuj Sangha’ as a responsible civil society organisation played a very crucial role and since many years have been advocating on Environmental Issues and Preparedness for Disaster Management in the deep remote corners of West Bengal. Thus, we are dedicatedly in action at our consistent efforts in mobilizing the community at large in the vast coastal region of West Bengal specifically in the core regions of Sunderbans.

Since ages the southernmost point of West Bengal Sagar Island is one of the most vulnerable points in coastal West Bengal that is being impacted by nature’s fury through cyclones, sea level rise and corrosions. Since quiet a period here the lives and livelihood of the local populace here are deeply impacted with yearly natural catastrophes. Losing agrarian lands, crisis in pure drinkable ground water, pollution created by fast overcrowding by the visitors etc. are the normal regular crisis the Sagar Island populace face at short intervals every year.  

In this consequence ‘Sabuj Sangha’ has remained consistent in Community Mobilisation and Raising Awareness in Sagar Island with wide and continuous participations of the schools, community based organisations, govt. departments and community at large ‘Sabuj Sangha’ with their young and robust group of volunteers.

As part of sensitizing community on preparedness against the fast changing climatic and ecological order we often take the opportunities of Celebration Days of National and International Importance to propagate awareness through messages on environmental protection, preservation and building resilience against nature’s devastating furies.

Thus the 150^th anniversary of ‘Father of Nation’- Mahatma Gandhi on 2^nd October, 2019 Sabuj Sangha celebrated the event at remote and isolate Sagar Island in a little different and sensible manner.

To make the occasion truly worthy and recalling the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi ‘Cleanliness is Godliness’ a special initiative was jointly made by Sabuj Sangha and Gangasagar Bakkhali Development Authority (GBDA).

Under the supervision and active voluntary participation of ‘Sabuj Sangha’ and GBDA the premises of the Govt. Administrative Offices and adjoining areas are cleaned by youngsters of the vicinity, students, teachers and also some other sensible persons.

Around 50 Students from each of the two prominent schools of Sagar Island ‘Natendrapur Natendranath Higher Secondary School’ and ‘Bishnupur K. B. Vidya Bhavan’ actively participated in the programme while sharing hands in cleaning Gangasagar Mela Ground premises. Joining hands with them employees of GBDA and other Govt. Offices along with the volunteers from ‘Sabuj Sangha’ also participated in the programme.

The organizers, both GBDA & Sabuj Sangha called upon the gathered mass, the passersby and local business community to give away using plastic materials including the plastic bags.

The Executive Officer and Member- Secretary, GBDA as the leader of the special initiative requested the listeners to think seriously upon the severe impacts of plastic usage on environment and overall ecological imbalances resulting towards damaging catastrophes. Appreciating the unique but timely essential initiative of ‘Sabuj Sangha’ he stressed upon on the Human interface and responsibility of all to get hold of any nuisances that is contributing to the rising pollution level –endangering ecological balance including Marine Living creatures. He also mentioned that Gangasagar being the sacred place river Ganga meeting ocean should be protected from any such dangers and restored to its all glories.

The initiative created sensation among the participants, local people, vendors, shop owners and visitors in the area. Adding to the sensation ‘Sabuj Sangha’ at their own initiative distributed around 1000 eco-friendly Paper Bags symbolizing replacement of Plastic Carry Bags to the vending shops, eateries and other stalls at the Gangasagar Mela Ground premises.

Sunderbans, the largest delta of the world at the southern most part of West Bengal, famous for Mangrove and Royal Bengal Tigers, struggles everyday to sustain in fighting with the vulnerability of nature as well as human interface. People here, see a new morning every day with a sceptical mind and prepared to fight back the odds on their way to sustenance. Following the Fani Cyclone that devastated some of the coastal districts of Sundarbans, the importance of generating awareness in the community about climate literacy and marine litter management has become increasingly essential. As a Civil Society Organisation, we understand the need of appropriate interventions in these coastal regions to reduce the vulnerability of the climate and inhabitants of the island. We would like to continue implementing such initiatives and climate literacy programmes, including clean beach drives, to preserve the island’s ecosystem.

Since the last 10 years, Sabuj Sangha has been implementing several development programmes in Sagar Island. In the past, we have implemented the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) with support of World Bank, with a focus on livelihoods programmes for the communities. In the recent years, we have implemented Climate Literacy and Marine Litter Management Programmes in Sagar, with a focus on effects of climate change and generating awareness within the communities. We have implemented several other projects on water, sanitation and hygiene and education programmes with local schools.

Our efforts have remained in sensitisation of the community in these areas since many years in prior. Furthering the commitment to create and sustain awareness on changing climatic conditions, Sabuj Sangha embarked into a journey of developing a climate resilient coastal community this year. The initiative aimed at extending education on climate change risks and to enhance the resilience of the affected and contributing community through Climate Literacy, Marine Litter Management and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) infrastructure development, with Sabuj Sangha pioneering the activities in the state of West Bengal.

Some of the achievements of the campaign are given below:
30,000 people from the coastal communities were reached through the campaign in Sagar Island 
Beach cleaning drive was conducted across 20 km length 
25,000 eco-friendly paper bags were distributed as a step to promote usage of paper bags instead of plastic bags 
50 volunteers working in the community to spread the knowledge of waste management, waste segregation, effects of climate change, and other environmental issues

Sabuj Sangha intends to continue and expand its reach from the above achievements last year to adjoining communities. Bringing in sustainable change in the community can only be brought through awareness and sensitisation about climate change and environmental sustainability. 

Many thanks to our supporters on Global Giving for believing in our cause!