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Woes of Sundarbans women

Published : Wednesday, 5 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 747
The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is a place of both beauty and hardship. This fragile ecosystem, shared by Bangladesh and India, is home to millions who rely on its resources for survival. However, climate change is rapidly altering the landscape, bringing devastating consequences for the people, particularly for adolescent girls and women. Among the many issues arising, salinity intrusion-a direct result of rising sea levels, frequent cyclones, and reduced freshwater flow-has become a silent yet powerful force affecting women's reproductive health and psychological well-being.

Day by Day the Growing the Threat of Salinity Intrusionin coastal areas of Bangladesh has intensified over the past few decades due to climate-induced changes. The intrusion of saline water contaminates drinking sources, disrupts agriculture, and fundamentally alters the health conditions of the local population. Women and girls, who already face gender-based health disparities, are among the most vulnerable to these changes.

For many communities in the Sundarbans, access to fresh drinking water has become a daily struggle. Saline water not only makes traditional sources of drinking water unsafe but also has long-term health implications. Research indicates that women who consume saline-contaminated water are at higher risk of reproductive health disorders, including menstrual irregularities, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and complications during pregnancy. The prevalence of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension has increased in these areas, leading to adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes. Furthermore, exposure to high salt intake from drinking water can lead to kidney diseases and cardiovascular issues among women, exacerbating their health vulnerabilities.

The Gendered Burden of Fishing and Salinity Exposurewith the Women in the Sundarbans, particularly those from low-income communities, predominantly work in fishing and minnow collection. Their traditional attire sarees provides little protection from prolonged exposure to saline water. As they wade through the water for hours, their reproductive organs are constantly exposed to high salinity levels, leading to chronic infections, irritation, and reproductive health complications. Due to a lack of access to fresh water for personal hygiene, they struggle to cleanse themselves properly, increasing the risk of gynecological infections, reproductive tract diseases, and even fertility issues.

Many of these women experience pain and discomfort in their vaginal region, leading to difficulties in their sexual lives. Over time, these health problems can contribute to marital instability, as some women are abandoned by their husbands due to their inability to engage in sexual activity or conceive children. The compounded effects of health issues, economic struggles, and social stigma leave these women highly vulnerable to depression and anxiety.

Beyond the physical health implications, the psychosocial toll of climate change, particularly salinity intrusion, is profound. The struggle for access to safe water and healthcare creates an additional burden for women, who are traditionally responsible for water collection and household chores. As water sources dry up or become contaminated, they are forced to walk longer distances, often traveling several kilometers, in search of fresh water. This increased workload and stress contribute to exhaustion, anxiety, and depression.

For adolescent girls, the impact is even more severe. Menstrual hygiene becomes a critical issue when clean water is scarce. Girls in the Sundarbans frequently miss school due to the unavailability of sanitary facilities and safe water for managing menstruation. The stigma surrounding menstruation, coupled with these challenges, contributes to school dropouts, child marriage, and a cycle of poverty and early motherhood. In extreme cases, girls are forced to adopt unhygienic practices, leading to infections and reproductive tract complications that go untreated due to limited healthcare access.

The emotional distress of living in a climate-vulnerable region also leads to rising cases of gender-based violence. In post-cyclone scenarios, where families lose their homes and livelihoods, domestic violence often increases. Women and girls in emergency shelters are more exposed to sexual harassment and exploitation. The psychological trauma of such experiences, combined with the ongoing battle against environmental adversity, erodes their mental well-being. Additionally, Forced displacement due to rising sea levels has severely disrupted social structures in the Sundarbans, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation. As families lose their homes and livelihoods, they are often forced to migrate in search of safety and work, only to find themselves in precarious conditions with little protection. Traffickers prey on this desperation, luring adolescent girls and women with false promises of employment, marriage, or security, only to trap them in forced labor, domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation. Many of these women, displaced from their communities and without support networks, have no means of escape, further entrenching their suffering. Without urgent intervention, climate-induced migration will continue to fuel human trafficking, turning the climate crisis into a humanitarian disaster for countless women and girls in the region. Leaving many women and adolescent girls without traditional support networks, increasing their sense of isolation and vulnerability.

Pregnancy and Childbirth Challenges in Salinity-Affected Areasfor pregnant women in the Sundarbans, the impact of salinity on reproductive health is life-threatening. The lack of access to clean water exacerbates conditions like high blood pressure and eclampsia, increasing maternal mortality rates. Many women in these regions rely on traditional birth attendants due to the absence of medical facilities, but these attendants often lack the knowledge or resources to handle complications arising from high-salinity diets and water consumption.

Malnutrition, another consequence of climate change, worsens the reproductive health crisis. Saline water disrupts agricultural production, making it difficult for families to access nutritious food. Pregnant women, who require a balanced diet for both their health and that of their unborn children, suffer from severe nutrient deficiencies, leading to low birth weight and increased neonatal mortality. Additionally, inadequate prenatal care increases the risk of stillbirths and birth defects, which could be mitigated with improved maternal health services.

Despite these challenges, the resilience of women in the Sundarbans their Coping Strategies and Community Resilienceis remarkable. Many have taken the initiative to develop localized solutions to combat the salinity crisis. Rainwater harvesting has become a vital coping mechanism, allowing families to collect and store fresh water for household use. Community-based organizations like BINDU, Friendship and CCDB and many more CBO are also working to raise awareness about the importance of reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management in climate-vulnerable areas. Moreover, women-led cooperatives have started exploring salt-resistant crop cultivation to mitigate the effects of declining agricultural productivity.

Alternative livelihood strategies have also gained momentum. Women are being trained in crab farming, honey collection, and eco-tourism initiatives that reduce dependency on fishing and exposure to saline water. Microfinance institutions and NGOs are supporting these women with financial resources and skill-building programs, allowing them to diversify their income sources and build economic resilience.
However, these efforts are not enough without broader systemic changes. Policymakers must prioritize gender-responsive climate adaptation strategies, ensuring that women's health concerns are integrated into national climate action plans. Expanding access to climate-resilient healthcare services, including mobile clinics and emergency medical support, is critical in addressing the reproductive health crisis.

The Urgent Need for Policy Intervention between climate change and reproductive health is often overlooked in national and international climate policies. To mitigate the psychosocial impacts of salinity intrusion, a multi-pronged approach is required to Improved Water Management to Large-scale desalination projects, freshwater conservation programs, and infrastructure to protect drinking water sources must be implemented to combat salinity intrusion. Sustainable water harvesting and water purification techniques should be promoted at the household level. To ensure Healthcare Access of Rural health centers in the Sundarbans should be equipped to handle reproductive health complications linked to salinity exposure. Mobile healthcare services must be expanded to reach remote areas. Special attention should be given to maternal and adolescent healthcare, ensuring access to contraception, prenatal care, and menstrual hygiene support.

To Build Education and Awareness in the Schools and community centers should integrate climate change awareness with reproductive health education. Empowering adolescent girls with knowledge about menstrual health and nutrition will help them cope with the challenges they face. Public health campaigns should also target men, encouraging shared responsibilities in domestic tasks and water collection. And Economic Opportunities for Women shouldproviding livelihood support, vocational training, and financial resources for women can reduce their vulnerability to climate-induced poverty and gender-based violence. Investing in women-led cooperatives focusing on climate-resilient farming, fisheries, and sustainable enterprises can help boost economic independence.

The intersection of climate change, salinity, and women's reproductive health in the Sundarbans presents a crisis that cannot be ignored. Adolescent girls and women are bearing the brunt of environmental degradation, with profound consequences for their physical and mental well-being. Addressing these issues requires urgent, gender-sensitive climate policies that prioritize the health and dignity of those most affected. If action is not taken, the silent suffering of women in the Sundarbans will only deepen, leaving generations trapped in a cycle of vulnerability and hardship. It is time for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and communities to work together to ensure that climate resilience is not just an environmental goal but a human rights imperative.

The writer is a human right activist


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