Between 20 August and 15 September 2026, MUKTI conducted 48 village-level meetings with 940 women across six Gram Panchayats in the remote Sundarbans under the Voice Sunderban Project. The meetings created a space for women to speak openly about their everyday experiences, social and economic challenges, and the additional difficulties of living in climate-vulnerable communities.

The discussions brought forward several issues that continue to affect women’s independence and participation in family and community life. Participants spoke about having limited roles in household decision-making, restrictions on movement and higher education, lack of freedom in choosing clothing, unequal food practices within families, and limited control over their own earnings and expenditure.

Alongside understanding these lived experiences, the meetings also introduced participants to women’s basic rights and constitutional entitlements. The conversations helped women reflect on how long-standing social practices and gender-based restrictions can affect their dignity, choices, financial independence and opportunities for growth.

The outreach covered Maipith Baikunthapur and Gopalganj Gram Panchayats in Kultali Block, where 20 meetings reached 394 women; Herambagopalpur and Achintyanagar Gram Panchayats in Patharpratima Block, where 18 meetings engaged 358 women; and Swami Vivekananda and Ramkrishna Gram Panchayats in Kakdwip Block, where 10 meetings reached 188 women.

The discussions also highlighted how social and economic inequalities can become more difficult in areas repeatedly affected by climate-related challenges. Understanding these realities directly from women is an important part of designing interventions that respond to their actual needs rather than making assumptions about the challenges they face.

Through these meetings, the Voice Sunderban Project has developed a stronger understanding of the socio-economic barriers, restrictive gender norms and climate-related vulnerabilities affecting women across the project areas. The insights and concerns shared by participants will now help guide future interventions aimed at strengthening women’s awareness, agency, participation and opportunities within their families and communities.

Most importantly, the meetings ensured that women themselves remained at the centre of the conversation — sharing their realities, identifying the barriers they face and helping shape the direction of future action.