Sundarbans: From Struggle to Hope

Where Survival Was Once the Only Story

The Sundarbans—an endless stretch of emerald mangrove forests, rivers crisscrossing like veins, and the eternal dance of land and water. To an outsider, it is nature’s grand masterpiece. But for the people who call it home, it has always been a land of struggle.

Here, survival meant battling nature every single day. Crocodiles lurked in the waters, tigers prowled the forests, and yet families ventured out—fishing, collecting wood, gathering saplings—just to put food on their plates.

Then came the cyclones, tidal surges, and river erosion—tearing away homes, fields, and the very earth beneath their feet. Each year, families rebuilt from nothing, only to lose it all again.

Nearly 80% of households depended on single-crop farming. Once the harvest was over, men migrated to faraway cities, leaving women behind with the impossible task of raising children and managing families with empty hands.

For many, even a single meal a day was a luxury. Children’s schooling broke down, and dreams were cut short by child labour or early marriages. Poverty, deprivation, and nature’s cruelty defined life in the Sundarbans.

The Turning Tide – MUKTI Arrives

Amid this darkness, a ray of light appeared—MUKTI, a grassroots organization born from the soil of the Sundarbans itself. For decades, MUKTI has stood as a friend, a guide, and a force of change for the people here.

But their work was not about charity. It was about empowerment—showing people how to rebuild lives with dignity.

Some of their most remarkable initiatives include:

Introducing eco-friendly farming and modern fishing tools.
Creating new income sources like crab farming, fish farming, and livestock rearing.
MCDF Project: helping women gain financial independence, fighting trafficking, preventing child marriage, and ensuring children’s right to education.
SWAS Project (with SIDBI): engaging 2,000 marginalized women in small businesses and home-based industries.
Opening doors to new livelihoods—soft toy making, food processing, solar crafts, imitation jewelry, and more.

Producing high-quality fish and livestock feed—creating not just family support but also a promising business model for the Sundarbans.

With these efforts, MUKTI has begun to rewrite the story of the Sundarbans—from despair to resilience.

Women Rising, Dreams Returning

Walk into the villages of the Sundarbans today, and you will find a different story unfolding.

Women, once confined to their homes, now lead families with confidence. They earn their own income, pay for their children’s schooling, and dream of brighter futures.

Cooperatives bring women together, teaching them the strength of collective progress. Soft toys, food products, and crafts made by their hands carry not just economic value but also personal pride.

Children, once forced into work or marriage, are now back in classrooms. The threats of trafficking and early marriage are slowly receding.

And in the words of many women:
“We have learned to dream. Our future is in our own hands.”

What MUKTI has brought to the Sundarbans is not just livelihood—it is confidence, dignity, and hope.

The Road Ahead

The journey, however, is far from easy. The Sundarbans remains fragile—its people still live under the shadow of cyclones and rising seas. Sustaining change will require:

• Wider adoption of eco-friendly farming.
• Growth of small industries that engage women.
• Expanding financial support and job opportunities.
• Breaking free from social barriers and superstitions.

Yet, the people of the Sundarbans have shown an unshakable spirit. And with MUKTI by their side, they are moving toward a dawn of sustainable livelihoods, safe futures, and a poverty-free tomorrow.

Ujjwal Maity
Program Manager – Livelihood, MUKTI