Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

The Changing Pattern of Livelihood in Sagar Island, West Bengal, India

Senjuti Saha and Tuhin Ghosh

The reclaimed parts of the Sunderbans are very susceptible to various hazards. Natural calamities from climatic and tectonic hazards are common, inevitable and the nature might overcome it in its very own way but anthropogenic hazards bring disasters. Reclamation of islands from inundation for last two hundred years has left the region with such a level that the beds of the rivers had raised enough due to siltation. At the time of high tide rivers flow at a higher level than the villages. Embankments were initially erected in purview of protecting the land from saline water intrusion. During cyclonic upsurges the water level goes further above the crest of the embankment. As a result cyclone usually results into inundation of the villages, loss of life, loss of property etc. Income shocks are very frequent in this part rendering the population highly vulnerable as society is agrarian with a practice of mono cropping.