World Bank Document

INCORPORATING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRACTICES IN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR SUNDARBANS

REPORT Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized

Contents 1. Introduction...... 3 1.1. Background ...... 3 1.2. Objectives of the Event ...... 4 1.3. Scope of the Events ...... 4

2. Background for the Events ...... 5 2.1. Assessment of current situation ...... 5 2.1.1. Key issues and challenges...... 5 2.1.2. Possible problem solving approaches ...... 7 2.2. Approach and Methodology ...... 9 2.2.1. Justification for the selected events...... 9 2.2.2. Salient features of the pre-event consultation and communication process ...... 9 2.3. Stakeholders and participants ...... 11 2.3.1. Key stakeholders and participants in the event ...... 11 2.4. Design of the Events ...... 12 2.4.1. Type of Events ...... 12 2.4.2. Selection of issues and content and ensuring maximum participation ...... 12

3. Description of Events ...... 16 3.1. Description of the deliberations, presentations, etc...... 16 3.2. Key Recommendations from the workshop ...... 43 3.3. Outcome of the event ...... 45

4. Lessons learnt ...... 48 4.1. Salient features ...... 48 4.2. Challenges faced in approaches ...... 48 4.3. Degree of engagement by different stakeholders ...... 49 4.4. General recommendations for follow up tasks...... 49

5. Annex ...... 50 5.1. Background Materials circulated for the Event ...... 50 5.2. List of participants (or persons consulted/interviewed) ...... 58 5.3. Details of Photos and videos ...... 66

1. Introduction 1.1. Background

The Sundarbans delta is one of the most ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable regions in India. The region supports rich biodiversity and as well as a population of more than 4.5 million. This population, living in fifty-four low lying islands of Sundarbans, depend almost entirely on paddy cultivation for their subsistence and livelihoods. These islands are prone to changing weather patterns, erratic storms and cyclones and rising sea levels, which often cause flooding of agricultural fields with brackish water, destroying the high yielding varieties of paddy crops as well as indigenous paddy varieties that cannot withstand salinity.

Despite stupendous national and international efforts toward prompt mitigation, it is increasingly likely that the world will experience 2°C and more of global warming. Under such circumstances, a long-term adaptation decisions become even more crucial. As nations throughout the world prepare to adapt to the consequences of climate change, the extremely vulnerable Sundarbans region requires urgent attention.

Current policies and management practices in Sundarbans lack understanding of essential physical process and ever-expanding population. Add to it, there is less institutional collaboration between different departments. Development interventions are being carried out without taking into the notice the change in physical environment which makes it difficult to ascertain the types of interventions that would be most effective in mitigating adverse effects of climate change impacts and improving the existing poverty conditions.

In the absence of the needed new adaptive solutions, this environmentally and economically important area is rapidly heading towards an uncertain future. Government programs or initiatives are yet insufficient to mitigate the current water resources and ecosystem management (delta management) or possible climate change effects.

In view of the grave situation facing the eco-region, WWF-India has been entrusted by World Bank to organise a multi-stakeholder engagement to develop an alternative scenario to the “business as usual” informed by best available current knowledge and research. Keeping the above in mind, planning meetings were envisaged in all the five subdivision of Sundarbans.

The meetings engaged representatives from the grassroots of Indian Sundarbans to share and discuss innovations in primary livelihood activities, role of women and appropriate infrastructure development to build climate resilience of communities and sustainable development. It is planned to develop sustainable and climate resilient roadmap for the Sundarbans. At the end of consultations, a Sundarban Planning meeting is scheduled at

Kolkata involving all concerned Government stakeholders to discuss the outcome from these meetings and finalize the recommendations before sending to the World Bank.

1.2. Objectives of the Events

Mainstreaming climate change adaptation is the iterative process of integrating considerations of climate change adaptation into policy-making, budgeting, implementation and monitoring processes at national, sector and subnational levels. It is a multi-year, multi- stakeholder effort grounded in the contribution of climate change adaptation to human well-being, pro-poor economic growth, and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It entails working with a range of government and non-governmental actors, and other actors in the development field. Keeping these factors in mind, the events were organised with the following objectives:

(i) Presenting a macro picture of the challenges due to climate change induced risks and development deficit in the Sundarbans.

(ii) Presenting the strength and opportunities that Sundarbans has to offer to develop a climate resilient development plan.

1.3. Scope of the Events

“Mainstreaming adaptation practices into development projects” is the process of identifying climate related risks and adjusting activities or approaches to reduce these risks. The approach is different from a “targeted” Community-Based Adaptation project, where the explicit goal is to build vulnerable people’s resilience to climate change. By integrating adaptation into our projects, we can: (i) minimise the likelihood of climate change undermining or negating the effectiveness and sustainability of development interventions and (ii) ensure that activities contribute to people’s adaptive capacity, when possible, and don’t unintentionally increase their vulnerability to climate change.

Thus the major scope of the events were to understand and analyse the risks that climate change poses to project activities, stakeholders and results and then modify project designs or implementation plans to reduce those risks. Integrating adaptation practices in development planning has the potential to build people’s adaptive capacity towards the risks. By analysing peoples’ vulnerability to climate change and adjusting project activities to maximise their contribution to resilience, the positive impact of development projects can be significantly increased.

For example, the selection of technologies and crop varieties can make a major difference in the impact of an agricultural project. In a changing climate, production-oriented, high input agriculture may actually increase vulnerability, as the varieties may not be suited to tidal inundation or shifting rainfall patterns and the purchase of inputs may require credit – leaving farmers in a risky position in the event of crop failure. In this context, low-input techniques like conservation agriculture, and salt tolerant crop varieties suited to changing climatic conditions, may be more appropriate.

Multi-year development plans are based on both top-down input from national policies and bottom-up input from sector-level development plans. If climate change adaptation concerns have been effectively integrated in national policies, the top-down input from these should have already been assessed through the climate lens and should therefore be “climate-proof”. If this is the case, no further action should be required on these top-down inputs. In case of Sundarbans, the bottom-up sectoral plans may not have been screened against climate risks and will therefore need to be assessed in the light of climate change projections and impacts. Often the departments in Sundarbans have restricted capacity and resources to effectively plan for climate variability and do resilient planning. Impacts are often not well understood, and the linkages that adaptation planning also emphasizes on meeting other immediate and pressing development goals. The ideas and recommendations from the events are intended to provide governments with experience.

2. Background for the Events 2.1. Assessment of current situation

2.1.1. Key issues and challenges

The Sundarbans presents an example of an endangered ecosystem, both fragile and economically valuable, that is subject to growing population pressures due to deep rooted linkages of livelihoods with ecosystem services. While half of the over 4.5 million population are landless, they are almost entirely dependent on agriculture. This is in light of the fact that other livelihood options barring fishing and fishery are practically non-existent in the Sundarbans. Rain-fed agriculture forms the mainstay of the economy in the Indian Sundarbans. Erection of earthen embankments, to keep brackish tidal water at bay, is regarded as a prerequisite for sustaining the rain-fed freshwater based agro-ecosystem. Despite receiving substantial average rainfall of about 1800 mm during the monsoon months (June through September), agricultural productivity of the delta region is low due to (a) saline water intrusion, and (b) no more than 20% of agricultural land of about 2,91,682 hectare produces a second crop in the absence of irrigation facilities.

Bio-physical changes in the form of increase in sea surface temperature, sea level rise, changes in the precipitation patterns, and increasing frequency of cyclone events are prevalent in the Indian Sundarbans. During 2002-2009, Relative Mean Sea Level (RMSL) increased at the rate of 12 mm/year. Considering the record of past 25 years, the rate of relative sea level rise comes close to 8 mm/year, which is significantly higher than the rate of 3.14mm/year observed during the previous decade. Analyses of cyclonic events over a period of 120 years indicate a 26 percent rise in the frequency of high to very high intensity cyclones over this time period and intensifying in post monsoon and impacting the agricultural scenario of the ecosystem. Islands in the region enclosed by embankments have already lost 1.0-1.5m of elevation, whereas the neighbouring Sundarban mangrove forest has remained comparatively stable, barring at the southern edges. This elevation loss can be attributed to interruption of sedimentation inside the embankments, combined with accelerated compaction, removal of forest biomass, and a regionally increased tidal range. One major consequence of this elevation loss was experienced during Cyclone Aila in 2009, when the embankments of several large islands failed, leaving large areas of land tidally inundated for up to two years until embankments were repaired. Many areas still lie well below mean high water and remain at risk of severe flooding. Frequent flooding due to tidal upsurge and incursion of saline water rendered agricultural land fallow at least for next two years and as a result agrarian community, labours as well as their family suffered. With natural calamities destroying livelihoods and property there has been a propensity among the population, especially the landless, to exploit the ecological resource base rather indiscriminately. In the absence of the needed new adaptive solutions this environmentally and economically important area is rapidly heading towards an uncertain future. Government programs or initiatives are yet insufficient to mitigate the current water resources, ecosystem management (delta management) or possible climate change effects. A major challenge confronting decision-makers is how to deal with the inherent levels of uncertainty regarding changing long-term climate conditions and their associated impacts. The question that also needs to be addressed is how adaptation to climate variability and change can be more fully integrated into development policies. Traditionally, mitigation has received greater attention than adaptation, both from a scientific and policy perspective. One plausible reason for this could be that climate change emerged as a problem related to the long-term disturbance of the global geo-biochemical cycles and associated effects on the climate system. There are convincing arguments for consideration of adaptation as a response measure. First, no matter how robust mitigation measures are, a certain degree of climate change is inevitable due to historical emissions and the inertia of the climate system. Second, while the effects of mitigation may take several decades to manifest, most adaptation activities take effect almost immediately. Third, such measures can be applied on a regional or local scale, and their effectiveness is less dependent on actions of others. Fourth, adaptation besides addressing the risks associated with changes in the climate in future typically reduces risks associated with current climate variability.

2.1.2. Possible problem solving approaches

Various stakeholders advocate mainstreaming climate resilience into development planning, broadly referring to processes for integrating climate change considerations into development planning objectives – such as national development plans – and processes such as annual planning cycles and public finance management systems. Mainstreaming must have a greater sense of ownership by government departments. In many countries, governments are already investing in processes that are country-driven, using their existing priorities and capacities as the starting point and their planning expertise as the engine. Country officials are determining how climate change issues are relevant to their plans and deciding what actions to take, using their country’s own systems, capacities and priorities. Mainstreaming in this way is more pragmatic, context specific and simple than constructing a planning programme to development partner specifications. It targets change strategically and operates with national resources. To become truly embedded, climate resilience needs to be integrated into three key dimensions of the development planning system: development policy objectives, spatial planning scales and temporal planning scales. Box 1 explains these dimensions in more detail. Box 1: Dimensions for Mainstreaming Climate Resilience Development policy objectives: Because climate change challenges development, climate resilience must be integrated into development policy objectives. Climate change impacts – increased temperatures, rising sea levels, unstable and more extreme rainfall patterns – can impede development and threaten the effectiveness and sustainability of development investments. At the same time, people’s capacity to adapt to these impacts depends on their access to economic, ecological and social resources, and infrastructure and governance. Hence, development planning must be climate resilient while also building climate resilience. Spatial planning scales: The cross-scale impacts of climate change demand better integration of local and national policy responses. The impacts of climate change will be felt first and foremost by local people, groups and enterprises. National adaptation planning must therefore be informed by, and supportive of, local adaptation planning, which focuses on location-specific needs and so better reflects local realities and contexts. Local adaptive planning can be more agile than national planning and can make seasonal adjustments, thus enabling better responses. National planning can enable adaptation by providing the necessary infrastructure, public services and resources. Temporal planning scales: The changing impacts of climate change over time demand the integration of adaptation into short-, medium- and long-term development planning cycles, such as annual, five- and ten year plans and mid-term expenditure frameworks. Development planners need to take the right decision at the right time. Existing stand- alone, project-based approaches to adaptation planning largely fail to incorporate iterative planning as a means to respond to the different timescales of climate change impacts. Programmatic approaches that are linked to development planning cycles are required.

There are three broad types of policy responses and respective entry points to mainstream climate resilience into development planning. a) The climate-proofing approach: This approach aims to protect development interventions that have been planned in isolation of the climate change context by increasing capacity to cope with – and recover from – the impacts of existing climate variability. Climate resilience is integrated at a later stage of design to minimise the impacts of climate change on the intervention. The entry point for integration under this policy response is often via project-based interventions. This approach is viewed as a valid entry point for mainstreaming climate resilience in countries that prefer to use a project-based approach to development planning. b) The climate-first approach: This approach largely addresses incremental changes in existing climate-related risks, by increasing a society’s capacity to cope with extremes and variability, thus preparing them for, and enabling them to accommodate, increased variability and more frequent and severe extremes. The entry point for integration under this policy response is often stand-alone climate change policies and strategies. The climate-first approach often results in identifying and implementing pilot climate-resilient strategies or projects, with effective pilots subsequently being scaled up and/or integrated into existing development programmes, sectoral and national plans at a later stage. It is used in countries that wish to test approaches to climate resilience before investing significant resources in integrating them into regular development planning. c) The development-first approach: The development-first approach has climate resilience as an integral part of the development planning process from the start. Policymakers focus on making development planning processes resilient to climate change, so they can deliver climate-resilient developmental outcomes. The entry point for integration is often a national, local or sectoral development planning framework. This approach is used in countries that wish to mainstream climate resilience from a development planning systems approach. It is in this approach that medium to long-term opportunities for mainstreaming really lie.

2.2. Approach and Methodology

2.2.1. Justification for the selected events

Mainstreaming adaptation into development strategies and practices is underlined by the fact that interventions are required to increase resilience to climate variability. Climate change adaptation practices calls for natural resource management, strengthening food security, development of social and human capital and strengthening of institutional systems. Such processes, besides building the resilience of communities, regions and countries to all shocks and stresses, including climate variability and change, are good development practice in themselves. Hence the inclusion of climatic risks in the design and implementation of development initiatives is vital to reduce vulnerability and enhance sustainability. Keeping in mind the development-first approach, series of planning meetings were held with CBOs, NGOs, community leaders and officials from local governance as integration takes place at different levels: Local level: municipal planning processes and community level strategies, covering areas such as risk assessment practices, community services, emergency preparedness programmes, seed banks etc ; Sectoral level: impacts on agriculture, water resources, forestry, fisheries, coastal zones, urban planning, human health, and disaster risk reduction.

2.2.2. Salient features of the pre-event consultation and communication process

The pre event consultation was a major process, which started almost a fortnight before the events. Since one the thematic area of the meeting was for development of Sundarbans and incorporating adaptation practices, WWF-India proposed to partner with Sundarban Affairs Department to become the nodal stakeholder (Table 1).

Due to paucity of time and political situation, only the last meeting was convened by Sri Manturam Pakhira, Minister of State, and Sundarban Affairs Department. Elected representatives of the region, officials of line departments and local governance and other stakeholders were invited to be part of it.

Table 1: Details of pre events consultation and communication process for four meetings

Canning Sub-Division Meeting on 30 September 2015 at Basanti

Dates Events 23.09.15 Sent mail to Secretary, Joygopalpur Gram Vikash Kendra (JGVK) requesting to support organizing Canning Sub-Division level meeting at Basanti. 24.09.15 Secretary, JGVK agreed to support organizing it and assured necessary help for the same

Basirhat Sub-Division Meeting on 9 October 2015 at Dhamakhali

Dates Events 31.08.15 Sent mail to Secretary, Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre (JYDC) stating the plan to organize Basirhat Sub-Division level meeting at Dhamakhali and requesting their support to organize the same. Also requested to propose a suitable date for the meeting. 10.09.15 Received reply from Secretary, JYDC informing possible date for the meeting 18.09.15 Sent mail to Secretary, JYDC accepting the date, proposed by them 07.10.15 Receive mail from JYDC agreed to support organizing Basirhat Sub-Division meeting at Dhamakhali on 9 October 2015

Baruipur and Diamond Harbour Sub-Divisions Meeting on 14 October 2015 at Joynagar

Dates Events 03.09.15 Sent mail to Secretary, Lokmata Rani Rashmani Mission (LRRM) requesting to support organizing Baruipur and Diamond Harbour Sub-Division level meeting at Joynagar. 24.09.15 Secretary, LRRM agreed to support organizing it and also suggested necessary action for its success.

Kakdwip Sub-Division Meeting on 21 February 2016 at Kakdwip

Dates Events 07.10.15 Meeting with Sri Manturam Pakhira, Minister of State, Sundarban Affairs Department requesting his Department to co-organize Kakdwip Sub-Division meeting. Meeting date identified, list of invitees (draft) prepared, meeting venue identified; however due to local problem, meeting could not be organized. 03.02.16 Meeting with Sri Manturam Pakhira, Minister of State, and Sundarban Affairs Department on Kakdwip Sub-Division meeting. Tentative date finalized, invitee list finalized, venue finalized, other details related to the meeting worked out. 05.02.16 Minister of State, Sundarban Affairs Department informed about the final date for the meeting.

2.3. Stakeholders and participants

2.3.1. Key stakeholders and participants in the event

The aim of the events was to encourage multi-stakeholder dialogues. This mechanism supported feedback from these dialogues to inform formal processes of policy formulation and coordination between different departments. The approach emphasized the importance of dialogue, trust building, and stakeholder ownership at all possible levels. Localised perspectives were to be shared in this event. Holistic multi-disciplinary analyses including the integration of climate change implications and gender impacts into all activities and the identification of pragmatic activities that would catalyse positive change for development planning were to be discussed.

The meetings were carried out with collaboration from local partners in three subdivisions: (i) Joygopalpur Gram Vikash Kendra, (ii) Lokmata Rani Rashmoni Mission and (iii) Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre and collaborated with Sundarbans Affair Deparment in Kakdwip Subdivision.

Thus key stakeholders and participants in the events were

 Elected members of Legislative Assembly and ministers of different departments  Senior staff in relevant government agencies at local level.  Local civil societies , nongovernmental organizations and local institutional bodies  Experts from diverse academic background relevant to Sundarbans.

Few of the participants that were selected and invited could not attend the events. Nevertheless, the workshop was attended by a robust group of expertise.

2.4. Design of the Events

2.4.1. Type of Events

The meetings were organised in four respective sub divisions of Sundarbans. The first meeting was held on 30 September, 2015 at Basanti, second meeting on 09 October, 2015 at Dhamakhali, third meeting on 16 October, 2015 at Joynagar and the fourth meeting on 21 February, 2016 at Kakdwip.

The technical sessions and discussions/group works were carried in the meeting. The experts gave presentation on different thematic areas related and topics assigned. This interactive discussions helped the participants to have a detailed understanding of different sectoral issues and possible adaptation plans that is required in Sundarbans. At the end of each event, the participants were also exposed to broader role of NGOs in transboundary planning and their significance in development planning.

2.4.2. Selection of issues and content and ensuring maximum participation

The key focus of a successful planning meeting is to build a participatory, interactive and interesting exercises where participants can envisage a road map for a successful planning and outcome. The method used in these meetings were “Work Group Methodology” often known as “action-planning workshop” which helped the participants in establishing a framework for discussion. This method helped to brainstorm and penned down the challenges of the community residing in the region and possible strategies for the future planning.

This was very useful as because collaborative decision making helps to begin and sustain stakeholder collaboration and foster “learning by doing” atmosphere. A facilitator moderated the meetings and guided different diverse group of stakeholders through a series of activities that helped in building a consensus.

The meeting had the following features and methods-

Audio-visual background note- The participants were divided into working groups. A detailed presentation was given by the experts and moderator about the objective, tasks and envisaged outcome for each group. SWOT analysis- Collecting and organising complex information and challenges in development planning of Sundarbans is complicated task. The decision makers appreciate a method, which provides an overall, simple picture and summarizes the most significant climate or governance related challenges. One way to approach is through a SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities & Threats) analysis.

A rapid and brief Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat (SWOT) analysis was conceded to conceptualize the synoptic profile of the district as regards to major development sectors.

Participants were requested to widened the analysis in context to their respective subdivision and share and discuss innovations or practices for formulating a full proof strategy for sector development keeping in mind the climate change impacts and what needs to be done to be better off and develop the sector ten times than what is now.

Strength: Cultivation of agricultural crops has a limitation because of salinity and inadequate irrigation water. However, the area is potentially good for horticulture. The district is potentially strong in the Animal Resource Development (ARD) sector and rearing of poultry, dairy, goat and sheep can be developed for economic upliftment of the people. Cultivation of ornamental fisheries is another source of economic activity.

Weaknesses: Mono cropping is prevalent in the district because of salinity and lack of sweet water for irrigation. The irrigation potential being limited and the land holdings being fragmented, farm mechanization is difficult. As the farmers are poor, crop diversification and use of new tools and implements are restricted. The weak marketing facility which leads to exploitation of farmers by the private marketing agents is also one of the major weaknesses. Poor chains of cold storages and other marketing support facilities hamper the overall growth of horticulture, floriculture, meat and fisheries.

Opportunity: Development of agriculture through canal irrigation facilities and input management can improve the overall growth of agriculture in the district. With the advent of micro irrigation facilities the development of agriculture, floriculture and horticulture with the support of farmers can bring about economic development in this district. There is a tremendous scope of pisciculture in the district and that needs to be strengthened further. Farm mechanization can be done through effective technological support. Food processing units can be developed in the potential locations of the district.

Threats: Mono cropping in many areas has limited production potential unless new irrigation potentials are created. Small land holding hampers growth of agriculture and allied sector. Paucity of resources, crop diversification, farm mechanization, irrigation facility, development in ARD sector is a problem. Natural calamities like cyclones, floods are also hampering the agricultural growth.

Analysis of Livelihoods-climate linkages

Participants were required to analyse the livelihoods-climate linkages. This was to enhance greater understanding about the impacts of climate variability and change on important livelihood resources and activities in the sub-division. A key step was to identify particularly vulnerable livelihood groups and/or economic sectors that may include agriculture, fisheries. To sustain their livelihoods, people use a wide range of social, physical, natural, financial and human resources. To analyse livelihoods-climate linkages, those resources which were most important to livelihoods and participants were asked to identify short-term coping and longer-term adaptation strategies, keeping in mind that different groups will rely on different resources.

Key questions kept in mind while discussing in focussed group discussion:

1. Which social or economic groups within the community are particularly vulnerable to climate change? 2. Which resources are most important to the livelihoods of different social groups, including men, women and marginalised groups? 3. How do current climate hazards affect livelihoods and related resources of different groups? 4. Which livelihoods resources are most vulnerable to climate change? 5. Which livelihood resources are needed to cope with the immediate impacts of a climate hazard (such as a tidal inundation)? 6. Are current coping strategies used by different groups to deal with climate hazards effective? Are they sustainable? 7. Do current coping strategies differ from the ones used in the past? If yes, why? 8. Which livelihood resources are needed to build longer-term adaptive capacity? 9. What opportunities exist for diversification of livelihoods? What are the constraints to diversification for different groups?

Analysis of Infrastructure-climate linkages

Access to critical infrastructure and services, such as roads, cyclone shelters and telecommunications, plays a role in people’s adaptive capacity. Roads, for example, can facilitate access to markets and to financial services which can lead to income security, in turn leading to greater resilience. The existence of cyclone shelters can offer protection from these extreme events as they become more frequent and more intense.

Participants were requested to identify the infrastructure-climate risks in this particular subdivision and brainstorm options in details for risk reduction measures and mechanism.

Key points while discussing in focussed group discussion:

1. Disaster forecasting and preparedness; How to reach to the last person on land and water. 2. Coordination and collaboration during disasters; government agencies, NGOs, international community. 3. Post-disaster rehabilitation beyond relief; planning, support, short-term resilience.

Interactive group work – Each group had diverse stakeholders, like experts and grass-root level organizations. Each group had issues with regard to their respective community development block and came with the analysis. Appreciation-Influence-Control method (AIC) - It is important that each group might have some very vocal representatives and some not so opinionated and are reserved participants. It was the responsibility of the organizers to be part of each group and intervene during the discussion to make it more participatory. Strategically appreciating and building confidence influences the group to work more coherently for a better outcome. Group work presentation- After the discussion was done on a given time frame, a representative from each group had to give a presentation.

3. Description of Events 3.1. Description of the deliberations, presentations, etc.

1. Meeting on 30 September 2015…………………………………………………………….17 Planning meeting in Basanti for Canning Subdivision (Canning I, Canning II, Basanti, Gosaba)

2. Meeting on 9 October 2015………………………………………………………...……...24 Planning meeting in Dhamakhali for Basirhat Subdivision (Haroa, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali I, Sandeskhali-II, Hingalganj & Hasnabad)

3. Meeting on 16 October 2015……………………………………………………...………29 Planning meeting in Nimpith for Baruipur Subdivision (Jaynagar-I, Jaynagar-II, Kultali) and Diamond Harbor Subdivision (Mathurapur-I & Mathurapur-II)

4. Meeting on 21 February 2016 ……………………………………………………...………33 Planning meeting in Kakdwip for Kakdwip Subdivision (Kakdwip, Sagar Island, Patharpratima and Namkhana)

Meeting 1: Planning meeting in Basanti for Canning Subdivision (Canning I, Canning II, Basanti, Gosaba) - 30 September 2015

Background

The planning meeting in Canning subdivision (Canning I, Canning II, Basanti, Gosaba) was organized by WWF- India & EnGIO in collaboration with Joygopalpur Gram Vikas Kendra (JGVK); and supported by The World Bank under its South Asian Water initiative (SAWI). The meeting was held at premises of JGVK of Basanti on September 30, 2015; which is located approx. 80 km away from Kolkata in Canning subdivision South 24 Parganas. The meeting was part of series of multi- stakeholder consultations; and was particularly aimed at triggering dialogue and facilitating the preparation of a holistic planning document for Sundarbans particularly in context of changing climate and its impacts on the area. A total of 16 NGO representatives (from various sectors) participated in the above said meeting. The deliberations were divided into two parts; an Introductory Session briefing the participants regarding the objectives of the workshop; points they need to consider during the focus group discussion session and Focussed Group Discussion session involving the participants to brainstorm and pave for the options/recommendations.

Introductory Session:

Welcome Address

Shri Ratul Saha, Landscape Coordinator, Sundarbans Landscape WWF-India Shri Saha greeted the participants with a warm welcome. He welcomed the audience and introduced WWF-India, EnGIO, and the World Bank to the audience before pitching for the reason behind the meeting. He then continued to discuss regarding the delta, vulnerability context, lives and livelihood, challenges and issues faced by the community and interventions by line department and need of incorporation of adaptation practices in development planning. Shri Saha added that according to experts, changing climate is to blame for the flood. The sea level rise in the Sundarbans is around 8 mm per year, which is not only highest in the country but also one of the highest in Asia and more than double the global average of 3.2 mm per year. It is only natural that Sundarbans will have to face such climate change triggered inundation more frequently. The expert stressed that the fragile ecosystem now stands in the path of threats worsened by climate change with possibly more disasters in store for the future until and unless climate change adaptation be integrated into development planning to increase the resilience of livelihoods to climate change threats. To ensure community resilience, there is a need to expand the asset base of an individual and diversify livelihoods to build agricultural resilience.

inter-tidal mud flats for fisheries, brick kiln, markets, and public institutions have added to the problems apart from population pressure, increasing high frequency weather events, destructible harvesting practices and human wildlife conflict. The expert also stressed the issues and concerns regarding indiscriminate use of ground water. While ending his deliberation he urged the participants to brainstorm during the focussed group discussion and prioritise the issues and focus on the concerns to plan adaptation strategies and incorporate the same in adaptation planning. Group Discussion

Group-1

Strength

1. Availability of land and a fair number of livestock. 2. Availability of water in the monsoon; but no ways to desalinize and or make use of it. 3. Huge human resource but without skills. 4. Availability of sunlight throughout the year. 5. Mangrove forest as bio-shield. 6. Tidal creeks.

Weakness

1. Weak embankment. 2. Unavailability of productive electricity. 3. Very limited number of commodity market and is a serious problem for the farmers and other house hold producers to sell their product in time. 4. Increasing population. 5. Poor health infrastructure. 6. Availing of portable drinking water. 7. Lack of employment opportunity 8. Unavailability of fresh water irrigation system severely affecting the agriculture, which is the primary livelihood of the people of the Sundarbans. It also affecting the fresh water pisciculture. 9. Absence of seed bank.

Opportunity

1. Promotion of small household industry and training centre. 2. Ensure treated arsenic free drinking water. 3. Building suitable seed bank for the different local climatic condition. 4. Provide proper institutional guidance and infrastructure for multiple cropping in limited cultivable land. 5. Promotion and training in organic farming. 6. Need improvement in transportation sector. 7. Need control over the local market broker for the welfare of the small household and agricultural producers. 8. Promotion of eco-tourism. 9. Need solid and higher permanent river embankment. 10. Pond excavation is essential to store the rain water in season for general use and also for ground water recharge. 11. Need to control over all the local and foreign waste. 12. Need more canal, and construction of sluice gate. 13. Need universities and technical colleges. 14. Alternative livelihood is very important in the context of trafficking and migration. 15. Integrated health infrastructure required.

Threat

1. Illegal occupancy and construction on embankment and river bed. 2. Migration and human trafficking are increasing day by day. 3. The type of diseases and their nature are becoming more complicated day by day. 4. Environmental pollution causing damages to the biodiversity of this region. 5. Natural calamities became more frequent and violent. 6. Growing number of brick kiln in the area which are illegally reclaimed river basin possesses major threat to the overall ecology and biodiversity of this region. 7. Increasing salinity of the river. 8. Destruction of mangrove.

Group-2

Strength

1. Availability of land and a fair number of good livestock. 2. Good rain in the monsoon. 3. Presence of large number of human resource though training is required. 4. Availability of sunlight throughout the year, can be used as renewable power. 5. Mangrove forest which is serving as bio-shield. 6. Good opportunity for waterways.

Weakness

1. Weak embankment. 2. Lack of drainage system. 3. Lack of cold storage affecting agricultural production. 4. There is no unit for preservation and processing. 5. The surrounding water is saline, and very limited fresh water. 6. Health service is not up to the mark, need development in this sector. 7. Very limited number of commodity market is a serious problem for the farmers and other house hold producers to sell their product in time. 8. Unavailability of electricity is a major problem in this area. 9. Communication system is underdeveloped. 10. Lack of cooperation among different government departments. 11. Salinity of the soil is a major difficulty for agricultural practice. 12. Local commodity markets are controlled by brokers.

Opportunity

1. A great opportunity for preservation and processing industry. 2. Need more active cooperation and coordination from the political and governing side. 3. Need proper saline water management for pisciculture. 4. Promotion and training in organic farming. 5. Good irrigation system is required. 6. Need more government scheme in livelihood practice. 7. Integrated early warning system required. 8. Good communication system is urgently needed. 9. Need solid and higher permanent river embankment.

Threat

1. Flood in monsoon season and drought in summer. 2. Increase in pest number has been seen in recent years. 3. Natural calamities became more frequent and violent. 4. Increasing salinity.

Group-3

Strength

1. Availability of land and a fair number of livestock. 2. Large number of human resource. 3. Massive water body is real strength of this region. 4. Integrated market.

Weakness

1. Weak and unstable river embankment. 2. Unavailability of electricity is a major problem in this area. 3. Drainage system is poor or no drainage at all. 4. No industry no employment thus migration increasing. 5. Health service is not up to the mark, need development in this sector. 6. Poor communication and transportation. 7. Under developed irrigation and drinking water supply. 8. Lack of good quality fish and rice seeds.

Opportunity

1. Need more scientific approach to the agriculture, pisciculture and livestock development sector. 2. Good irrigation system is required for the agricultural practices. 3. Need more awareness and promotion of the various government schemes among the local people. 4. Multiple crop.

Threat

1. Inactive political and governmental state. 2. Frequent natural calamities are becoming major threat to this region and creating great damage.

Group-4

Strength

1. Availability of land and a fair number of good livestock. 2. Presence of large number of human resource though training is required. 3. Different NGO’s, government department, infrastructure and road connectivity are available in this subdivision. 4. Enough land, native species and experience all are available. 5. Primary communication facilities are present but there is also enough room for further development. 6. Governmental & non-governmental cooperation, different schemes, good number of cultivator, agricultural labour and raw materials all are the strength and opportunity of this sub-division.

Weakness

1. Unstable embankment and bad roads. 2. Need to increase the capacity and skills of the available human resource. 3. Good irrigation system is required for the agricultural practices. 4. Need high yielding variety of fish seeds and rice seeds. 5. The storage facility for food and agricultural product is really essential. 6. Very limited number of commodity market is a serious problem for the farmers and other house hold producers to sell their product in time. 7. Quality of the service in the different governmental departments is poor due to lack of employee, unwillingness, and inefficiency. 8. Need to control the local broker for the welfare of the local small household and agricultural producers.

Opportunity

1. There is an opportunity to introduce new technology in agricultural sector vis-à-vis other sector. 2. Agro and food processing industries will have good future in this subdivision. 3. Plenty of opportunity in agriculture such as spices, pulses, fruits and flowers. 4. Alternative livelihood is very important in the context of trafficking and migration.

Threat

1. Ground water level gradually decreasing due to over use of shallow tube well and pump. 2. Arsenic contamination in ground water possesses great threat. 3. Smuggling is increasing. 4. Commodity markets are controlled by local brokers. 5. River erosion is really threatening now a days.

Meeting 2: Planning meeting in Dhamakhali for Basirhat Subdivision (Haroa, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali I, Sandeskhali-II, Hingalganj & Hasnabad) - 9 October 2015

Background

The planning meeting in Basirhat subdivision (Haroa, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali I, Sandeskhali- II, Hingalganj & Hasnabad) was organized by WWF-India & EnGIO in collaboration with Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre; and supported by The World Bank under its South Asian Water initiative (SAWI). The meeting was held at Swarojgar Market and Training Centre of Dhamakhali on October 09, 2015; which is located approx. 95 km away from Kolkata in Sandeskhali-II block, North 24 Parganas. The meeting was part of series of multi- stakeholder consultations; and was particularly aimed at triggering dialogue and facilitating the preparation of a holistic planning document for Sundarbans particularly in context of changing climate and its impacts on the area. A total of 19 NGO representatives (from various sectors participated in the above said meeting. The deliberations were divided into two parts; an Introductory Session briefing the participants regarding the objectives of the workshop; points they need to consider during the focus group discussion session and Focussed Group Discussion session involving the participants to brainstorm and pave for the options/recommendations.

Introductory Session:

Welcome Address

Shri Subhro Sen, Coordinator, Climate Change WWF-India-Sundarbans Landscape Shri Sen greeted the participants with a warm welcome. He welcomed the audience and introduced WWF-India, EnGIO, and the World Bank to the audience before pitching for the reason behind the meeting. He then continued to discuss regarding the delta, vulnerability context, lives and livelihood, challenges and issues faced by the community and interventions by line department and need of incorporation of adaptation practices in development planning.

Shri S.C. Acharya, Ex. Deputy Director of Sundarbans Development Board & Consultant to WWF-India, Sundarbans Programme Shri Acharya started his deliberation briefing about the Sundarbans profile; the islands present, history of Sundarbans including reclamation, array of biodiversity it hosts and its significance for the community inhabiting in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve especially for sustenance of livelihood, protected area governance in Sundarbans and the concept of buffer and reserve in Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve. The expert explained the socio-ecological system and the reason why Sundarbans is regarded as microcosm of global dilemmas. Shri Acharya briefed the issues and causal effects for environment degradation. He cited examples like increasing salinity, encroachment of inter-tidal mud flats for fisheries, brick kiln, markets, and public institutions have added to the problems apart from population pressure, increasing high frequency weather events, destructible harvesting practices and human wildlife conflict. The expert also stressed the issues and concerns regarding indiscriminate use of ground water. While ending his deliberation he urged the participants to brainstorm during the focussed group discussion and prioritise the issues and focus on the concerns to plan adaptation strategies and incorporate the same in adaptation planning.

Group Discussion

Group-1 Strength

1. Availability of cultivable land. 2. Poultry and pisciculture skills known to the community.

Weakness

1. Poor economic condition. 2. Outdated agriculture, pisciculture and livestock practices. 3. Producers are not getting fair price from the local commodity market which is largely controlled by local brokers hence they are losing money and security. Extensive use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides. 4. Lack of proper training in livelihood practice.

5. Unavailability of fresh water irrigation system severely affecting the agriculture, which is the primary livelihood of the people of the Sundarbans. 6. Absence of soil testing facility and irrigation practices.

Opportunity

1. Pond excavation is essential to store the rain water in season for general and agricultural use. 2. Need drip-irrigation and spring irrigation system in the agriculture to use water more efficiently. 3. Need to build suitable native variety and high yielding variety seed bank for the different local climatic condition. 4. Provide proper institutional guidance and infrastructure for multiple cropping in limited cultivable land. Need to implement modern technology in agriculture, pisciculture and livestock development. 5. Need control over the local market broker for the welfare of the small household and agricultural producers. 6. Agro and food processing industries will have good future in this subdivision. 7. Mangrove plantation is required to protect the existing embankment. 8. Possibility in medicinal plant cultivation. 9. Good possibility in orchard and integrated livestock practice.

Threat

1. Weak river embankment 2. Irregular natural calamities and change in weather. 3. Rain-fed agriculture. 4. Unavailability of saline resistant and good quality seeds. 5. Outdated agricultural equipment. 6. Trafficking and migration issues. 7. Lack of cooperation and coordination from the line departments.

Group-2 Strength

1. Availability of land, water and mangrove forest area. 2. Human resource. 3. Local panchayats are the central power in this area. 4. Crab and fish farming.

Weakness

1. Weak embankment. 2. The available water is saline, and very limited fresh water. 3. Rain fed agriculture 4. Limited number of commodity market. 5. Smuggling and human trafficking are increasing. 6. Child marriage. 7. Lack of productive use of electricity 8. Lack of knowledge for multiple cropping in limited cultivable land. 9. Malnutrition and health problem is a major issue in this area. 10. Extensive use of chemical fertilizer.

Opportunity

1. Disaster Risk Reduction practices. 2. Practicing animal husbandry may be very useful alternative livelihood for the people. 3. Mangrove based livelihood practices and integration like mangrove based aquaculture should be an option. 4. Encouragement and development of cottage industry. 5. Biodiversity conservation and promotion of nature based tourism. 6. Mangrove plantation and scope of orchard may be an option. 7. Need to create more opportunity in fish and crab farming. 8. Rain water harvesting is very important in this region.

Threat

1. Natural calamities and sea level rise 2. Local political representatives are sometime irresponsive, they can play important role in implementation and to address the proper facilitation. 3. Growing number of brick kiln in the area which are illegally reclaimed river basin possesses major threat to the overall ecology and biodiversity of this region. 4. Increasing population and unemployment are major concerns.

Group-3 Strength

1. Suitable land for pisciculture. 2. Good irrigation system. 3. Nearest market. 4. Availability of land for cultivation. 5. Availability of native fish seeds.

Weakness

1. Different type of diseases in fish creating problem for local pisciculture sector. 2. Exporting fish seeds from other state is expensive. 3. Pollution of river water. 4. Unavailability of local variety rice seeds.

Opportunity

1. Integrated farming system (paddy and rice) could be very helpful. 2. Need local fish hatchery to get fish seeds easily in cheap rate. Because imported seeds from other state cost much heavier, thus less profit. 3. Pisciculture practice must be in a scientific way to increase productivity and control disease.

Threat

1. Lack of cooperation and coordination from the local governance. 2. River pollution. 3. Producers are not getting fare price from the local commodity market which is largely controlled by local brokers hence they are losing money and security. This issue must be solved immediately to protect the financial security of the people of this region.

Meeting 3: Planning meeting in Nimpith for Baruipur Subdivision (Jaynagar-I, Jaynagar-II, Kultali) and Diamond Harbor Subdivision (Mathurapur-I & Mathurapur-II) - 16 October 2015

Background

The planning meeting in Baruipur Subdivision (Jaynagar-I, Jaynagar-II, Kultali) and Diamond Harbor Subdivision (Mathurapur-I & Mathurapur-II) was organized by WWF- India & EnGIO in collaboration with Lokmata Rani Rasmoni Mission, Nimpith; and supported by The World Bank under its South Asian Water initiative (SAWI). The meeting was held at Lokmata Rani Rasmoni Mission of Joynagar on October 16, 2015; which is located 60 km from Kolkata via SH1 in Baruipur Subdivision in Jaynagar-II block, South 24 Parganas. The meeting was part of series of multi- stakeholder consultations; and was particularly aimed at triggering dialogue and facilitating the preparation of a holistic planning document for Sundarbans particularly in context of changing climate and its impacts on the area. A total of 12 NGO representatives (from various sectors participated in the above said meeting. The deliberations were divided into two parts; an Introductory Session briefing the participants regarding the objectives of the workshop; points they need to consider during the focus group discussion session and Focussed Group Discussion session involving the participants to brainstorm and pave for the options/recommendations.

Introductory Session:

Welcome Address

Group-1 Strength

1. Land, water and mangrove forest. 2. Variation in agricultural sector (conventional agriculture, medicinal plant and orchard). 3. Good opportunity in pisciculture sector because both fresh and saline water are available. 4. Rural community, organization and women’s power.

Weakness

1. Unavailability of fresh water irrigation system severely affecting the agriculture, which is the primary livelihood of the people of the Sundarbans. 2. Lack of awareness regarding conservation. 3. Unavailability of electricity is a major problem in this area. 4. Very limited number of commodity market is a serious problem for the farmers and other house hold producers to sell their product in time. 5. Unavailability of proper rain water storage and harvesting.

Opportunity

1. Promotion of eco-tourism. 2. Promotion and training in organic farming. 3. Need control over the local market broker for the welfare of the small household and agricultural producers. 4. Provide proper institutional guidance and infrastructure for multiple cropping in limited cultivable land. 5. Good opportunity for the food and fruit preservation units. 6. Need improvement in transportation sector.

7. Ensure the constant supply of sweet water and its preservation. 8. Integrated health infrastructure required.

Threat

1. Environmental pollution causing damages to the biodiversity of this region. 2. Natural calamities are more frequent and violent. 3. Black market are the problem for the local producers. 4. No preservation unit for the agricultural produce.

Group-2 Strength

1. Availability of land for cultivation. 2. Large number of human resources is available.

Weakness

1. Lack of cold storage affecting agricultural production. 2. Very limited number of commodity market is a serious problem for the farmers and other house hold producers to sell their product in time. 3. Absence or limited banking service is a big problem in this area.

Opportunity

1. Receive good rain in the monsoon, can be stored through the excavation of pond for greater benefit. 2. Use of organic fertilizers. 3. Good irrigation system practices. 4. Local women are greatly benefited by SHG small loan system. 5. Provide proper institutional guidance and infrastructure for multiple cropping in limited cultivable land. 6. Need more government scheme in livelihood practice. 7. Good transportation & communication system is urgently needed.

Threat

1. Extensive use of ground level water causes the serious problem of contamination of arsenic in the drinking water. 2. Natural calamities are more frequent and violent. 3. Increasing river pollution is a major threat to this area.

Meeting 4: Planning meeting in Kakdwip for Kakdwip Subdivision (Kakdwip, Sagar Island, Patharpratima and Namkhana) - 21 February 2016

Background

The planning meeting in Kakdwip subdivision (Kakdwip, Sagar Island, Patharpratima and Namkhana) was organized by WWF-India & EnGIO in collaboration with Department of Sundarban Affairs, Government of West Bengal; and supported by The World Bank under its South Asian Water initiative (SAWI). The meeting was held at Sundarban Mahavidyalaya of Kakdwip on February 21, 2016; which is located approx. 85 km away from Kolkata in South 24 Parganas. The meeting was part of series of multi- stakeholder consultations; and was particularly aimed at triggering dialogue and facilitating the preparation of a holistic planning document for Sundarbans particularly in context of changing climate and its impacts on the area. The meeting was convened by Sri Manturam Pakhira, Honourable Minister of State, Sundarban Affairs Govt. of West Bengal, and key political, administrative and civil society representatives from the region were also present. Apart from the ministers, two MLAs from the subdivision, Sri Bankim Chandra Hazra from Sagar Island (also Chairman of Sundarban Development Board) and Sri Samir Kumar Jana from Patharpratima block were also present. Senior representatives from local three tier panchayat system and NGOs from Kakdwip sub division participated in the meeting. Overall about 80 persons attended the daylong meeting. Deliberations: The deliberations were divided into two parts; an Inaugural session and a Workshop / Focussed Group Discussion involving the participants. Apart from the dignitaries mentioned; senior representatives from World Bank, WWF India, EnGIO and IDSA (as part of Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative) also attended the meeting.

Welcome Address

Shri Manturam Pakhira, Minister of State, Department of Sundarban Affairs (Independent Charge) & Ex Officio Member of the Standing Committee on Panchayat and Rural Development, Land & land Reforms and Sundarban Development. Shri Pakhira greeted the participants with a warm welcome. He welcomed the audience and he introduced WWF-India, EnGIO, and the World Bank to the audience. Shri Pakhira gave a short introduction regarding the significant role played by the deltaic region of our country, in terms of resources and overall development of the country. He continued with a brief introduction regarding the present anthropogenic and climate change impact in Sundarbans which is accelerating the malfunctioning of the social and economic structure of the region. Shri Pakhira mentioned the different initiatives that had been pursued by the Sundarbans Affairs Department. He mentioned that many regions in Sagar and Namkhana are getting affected by extreme high tides. Breach of embankments in this region is also leading to devastation of houses and intrusion of saline water in agricultural fields. But with the involvement of organizations like WWF-India, EnGIO, The World Bank and other departments, Shri Pakhira is very hopeful in addressing the problems which seemed to be difficult to resolve. He mentioned that mangrove forest of Sundarban and its Royal Bengal Tiger are both unique and proper planning and execution is required to protect them. Collaboration across stakeholder at all levels are required to jointly manage and conserve Sundarbans. Shri Pakhira mentioned that 200 multipurpose cyclone shelters are being built to counter the threat from changing climate. He ended his deliberation by assuring support from the Sundarbans Affairs Department and he mentioned that he will be happy to participate holistically to bring sustainable development in the Sundarbans region.

Shri Bankim Chandra Hazra, Member of Legislative Assembly, Sagar, West Bengal, India & Chairman, Sundarbans Development Board, Government of West Bengal. Shri Hazra started his deliberation mentioning his experience in the transboundary elected representatives workshop. He also raised the issue that the recommendations from the workshop has to be submitted to Chief Minister Office, West Bengal and pursued under her leadership. He stressed that the different agreements signed between two countries has to be pursued and the office of the Chief Minister need to pursue with the Central Government. Shri Hazra specifically mentioned that climate change impacts are visible in Sagar and focussed the climate change impacts in Sundarbans and mentioned that concrete structures like embankments can only resist and buy time towards changing climate events. Shri Hazra mentioned that how climate change impacts have pushed people from Sagar to other stable zones. He focussed that stable zones should have economic pull so that the resilience is build and they do not fall back on the ecosystem and poverty stricken. Strategies are also required to build the livelihood and institutional resilience of the vulnerable zones in Sundarbans. He mentioned that cluster development initiatives may be thought for Sundarbans.

Shri Samir Kumar Jana, Member of Legislative Assembly, Patharpratima, West Bengal, India Shri Jana appreciated the interventions undertaken by WWF-India and World Bank. He mentioned the changing climate threatens the livelihoods of the people. He stressed that good governance is required to mitigate severe socioeconomic deficiency in this area. Shri Jana mentioned various interventions carried out by Government and NGOs for Sundarbans but focussed that scientific assessment and strategies are required to have embankment in Sundarbans. Shri Jana clearly stressed that severity of climatic impact will increase and there should be adequate scientific strategies to manage it. Scientific technology and skills needs to be developed in agriculture and fisheries sector for better performance as well as build resilience of the community.

Shri Sanjay Gupta, Consultant, World Bank Mr. Gupta expressed his gratitude towards all participants and explained the perspective behind World Bank’s engagement with this meeting and different engagements in this region. The expert also stressed that though the government is doing best for the people of Sundarbans, the initiatives should be undertaken jointly by Central Government, State Government, Bangladesh Government and other stakeholders including civil society and World Bank. Reducing climate change vulnerability context and managing conflict would increase resilience of the people in Sundarbans.

Shri Kalyan Ganguly, Professor, Sundarban Mahabidyalay, Kakdwip Shri. Ganguly started his deliberation mentioning that climate change is impacting the socioeconomic sector in Sundarban and how anthropogenic impacts are accelerating the same. He pointed out the good governance in Kakdwip and how it has reduced the consumption of plastic in the region. Despite the initiatives undertaken by government departments and various civil societies, there is still lack of awareness among people regarding issues on climate change and environment. He ended his deliberation with stressing that there needs to be a strong awareness among the people in Sundarbans too.

Shri Jayanta Basu Director, EnGIO, Shri Basu mentioned that nothing can change for Sundarbans unless India and Bangladesh take the concerns to the global platform jointly. Climate change impacts on this zone needs global attention simply because of two factors; almost 13 million people are at risk in transboundary Sundarbans, and secondly the threats like sea level rise (SLR) is one of the highest in the world. Transboundary Sundarbans is actually a topper when it comes to vulnerability to climate change, even more vulnerable than most island countries being regularly highlighted in this context. Sundarbans is an excellent case study of lack of equity vis-à-vis climate change discourse; an area suffering significantly from climate change despite contributing virtually nothing in the climate cauldron. Sundarban is facing the rubber band syndrome – its resilience stretched to the hilt , and almost at the point of being snapped – as climate

change triggered problems add up to the traditional development deficits. Climate adaptation is still a bit of neglected area especially in Indian side of Sundarbans. Climate change is affecting Sundarbans through its immediate impacts on lives, livelihoods, and physical existence & by its long term impacts on key livelihood options like agriculture and fishery and also by eroding landmass as a rule catering significant number of people homeless. The expert also mentioned that BISRCI (Bangladesh India Sundarban Region Cooperation Initiative) – a consortium of seven organizations in India and Bangladesh including World Bank - is formulated in 2015 to combat the problem jointly. Strategies are required to implement the different MOUs and need to plan a proper road map for Sundarbans considering its severe but traditional developmental deficit coupled with climatic impacts. It is to be kept in mind that the majority in Sundarban are involved in ecosystem dependent livelihoods as employment opportunities in Sundarbans are extremely meagre. The expert also stressed that there is a need for managed market to ensure the insulation of key livelihood practices in the area. Both out and in migration are key issues and need to be addressed at the perspective of climatic changes. Trafficking is a great concern and indicates socioeconomic backwardness in the area. He also stressed that while making policies for Sundarbans should include proper disaster management plan and mangrove forest should play an important role in the context.

Group Exercise and dialogue

After the deliberations of key governmental, administrative and other stakeholders; the participants were divided in three groups to discuss the dynamics of holistic planning for Sundarbans vis-à-vis climatic changes in the zone. The dialogue presented an opportunity for local people representatives /administrators /NGO’s to discuss, deliberate regarding the holistic planning on Sundarban in general and Kakdwip subdivision in particular at the backdrop of existing developmental deficit coupled with present and potential climate change impacts in the area; and arrive at possible planning actions and mode of mainstreaming them with existing policy overlay for Sundarban.

The discussion and desired dialogue outputs are expected to address the following issues:

1. Existing status on developmental deficit? Education, Health, Sanitation others? Impact of climate change as perceived 2. Existing status of livelihoods? Agriculture (paddy / others), Fishery, Seedling collection, Honey collection, Crab collection, livestock management, tourism etc.? Impact of climate change as perceived 3. Existing status of employment? In and around Kakdwip/ outside Kakdwip? Impact of climate change as perceived 4. Existing status of market? Qualitatively and quantitatively? Impact of climate change as perceived 5. Existing status of embankment? Issues like mangrove cover / land? Impact of climate change as perceived 6. Existing status of physical infrastructure? Power, Communication/ transport etc. Impact of climate change as perceived 7. Existing status of demographic change? Migration, population rise, women issues, trafficking Impact of climate change as perceived 8. Existing status on developmental deficit? Education, Health, Sanitation others Impact of climate change as perceived 9. Existing status of livelihoods? Agriculture (paddy / others), Fishery, Seedling collection, Honey collection, Crab collection, livestock management, tourism etc. Impact of climate change as perceived 10. Existing status of employment? In and around Kakdwip/ outside Kakdwip Impact of climate change as perceived 11. Existing status of market? Qualitatively and quantitatively? Impact of climate change as perceived 12. Existing status of embankment? issues like mangrove cover / land Impact of climate change as perceived 13. Existing status of physical infrastructure? Power, Communication/ transport etc. Impact of climate change as perceived 14. Existing status of demographic change? Migration, population rise, women issues, trafficking Impact of climate change as perceived

Group A (Moderated by Shri Jayanta Basu)

1. Socioeconomic sectors have been greatly affected by climate change. Many local varieties of crop have been abandoned by the farmers of Sundarbans because local condition and soil is no more supportive to these crops such as water melon, chili etc. 2. Betel leaves is new alternative crop for the farmers. 3. The local climate, nature of soil is changing rapidly. 4. Rice production is still good in this region. 5. Sometimes here in Sundarban crop pattern also gets changed due to the policy level intervention. Government introduces or influences to introduce high yielding seeds leading to the limitation of local variety seeds being adaptive to this region. These high yielding seeds often fall prey to changing climate and its impacts. These varieties neither taste like native varieties nor good for health. 6. Need cold storage on an urgent basis. 7. Ecosystem and natural imbalance due to climate change. 8. Increasing storm is a common phenomenon. Destruction of property, infrastructure like connectivity, communication, health etc are happening as a consequence. 9. After Aila, State government are building new embankment, but mangrove protection in all areas have not come up. 10. People opined that safety of the people is more important than anything else; development comes next. 11. Physical infrastructure can’t survive without social infrastructure. 12. Land acquisition undertaken by State Government for embankment has been a critical issue. People in the area have started to give lands for building the embankments. The major planning related pointers being decided at the conclusion of the discussions are as follows:

1. Joint platforms are required at two levels; a) higher transboundary level b) local level within various stakeholders, and the later should supplement the earlier. 2. Building up climate change resilient socioeconomic infrastructure is as important as building the physical infrastructure 3. Local markets need to be strengthened 4. Cold storages are extremely important to enhance resilience 5. Strong embankment is an urgent necessity. 6. Government policy should mainstream climatic concerns 7. Mangrove plantation and protection needs to be prioritized in policy and practice

Group B (Moderated by Shri A. Anurag Danda) 1. Mangrove plantation for embankment protection. 2. Extensive commercial fishing destroying the biodiversity of the river. Needs to bring ‘close season’ for fishermen to regulate the ideal diversity. 3. Need good market. 4. Tiger prawn fry collectors are destroying the fish diversity in the river as they take only tiger prawn fry and rest are being destroyed. End of the day they sell their collection to the brokers for very little amount. Creating awareness among fry collector from river is important in the context. 5. There is no bank to give loan to the farmer or fishermen. Needs financial securities. 6. Needs integrated farming for fish and crab. 7. Needs more environment friendly technique to catch fish, using environment friendly color coding in boat. 8. Solar energy use can be maximised. 9. Ban plastic use. 10. Needs public toilets / proper toilets. 11. Proper sewerage and solid waste management system are required. 12. Concrete embankment is not environment friendly. Grass and mangrove plantation in mud embankment is a good option. 13. Honey collectors are not getting fare amount from forest department to sell their honey to them which needs to be addressed. 14. Ecosystem dependent livelihoods need to be gradually withdrawn over the future generations and other livelihood options need to be explored. 15. Trafficking is a major problem. 16. Migration triggered due to lack of employment and proper livelihood. 17. Rain water harvesting is very important in Sundarban. 18. Proper irrigation is required. 19. Skill and knowledge development of the local people is very important and they also need some financial help to start their small entrepreneurship. 20. Need to proper assessment of current strength & opportunity. 21. Growing population is a major concern. 22. Empowerment of women and children is very important in Sundarban. 23. Organic fertilizer needs to be promoted. 24. Alternative livelihoods need to be explored.

25. Unavailability of sufficient fresh water is a challenge and hence needs proper knowledge to use minimum water in agricultural practices. 26. Need to creation a ‘Sundarban brand’ for honey; in line of ‘Jaynagarer moa’, ‘palm sugar’, ‘Darjeeling tea’ etc. 27. Water ambulance is required to provide timely and appropriate health services. 28. Need more fuel efficient and clean boat to control pollution.

Group C (Moderated by Shri Subhas Acharya) 1. Integrated training in pisciculture and agriculture. 2. Local governance should be improved and active. 3. Sanitation system is not well developed. Need more toilets connected with the well-developed sewerage system. 4. Water supply is poor. 5. Needs more education. 6. Fishing and agriculture is the major livelihood of this area. Storm surge, salinity of the soil is growing day by day and production yield is severely affected due to this. Needs more training and awareness among the farmers and fishermen to fight with this type of situation. 7. Good irrigation system is required. 8. Needs rain water harvesting to ensure yearlong fresh water supply. 9. Identify suitable crop varieties for this type of soil and climate. 10. Public health is a concern and challenge. 11. Well managed good market system is required. 12. Needs encouragement and financial support in small household industry and small entrepreneurships. 13. Large population maximizes competition. 14. Good possibilities in jute production and market. 15. Mangrove plantation is required on embankment. 16. Leave some place for the rivers to meander. Needs proper knowledge about the river courses and its management. 17. Good quality grid electricity is required. 18. Telecommunication system is presently average. 19. Needs to improve the quality of the existing roads. 20. Practice the agriculture – and the crop varieties - those need less water. 21. NGOs should have a role and responsibility in planning and execution.

22. Early warning system should be well developed and accurate and should include government departments / buildings, NGO’s, temple and mosque for propagation. 23. Need awareness and joint cooperation among the NGO’s, Panchayats and local people to protect the existing mangrove forest or plantation and also to expand it. 24. Char land is an excellent place for new mangrove plantation. 25. Climate Change impact can be seen in seasonal diversion, uneven distribution of rain such as untimely flood and drought. Health problems are also on a rise. 26. People will shift from extremely vulnerable areas if there is an opportunity of good quality life for them as well as their children.

3.2. Key Recommendations from the workshop

The chart below summarizes the opportunities suggested by stakeholders during the meetings. The opportunities for interventions have been divided into capitals or livelihood assets. It is crucial to analyse how people endeavour to convert these strengths into positive livelihood outcomes. Following are the five types of assets or capitals upon which livelihoods are built, namely human capital, social capital, natural capital, physical capital and financial capital.

Table 2: Summary of Key recommendations of the workshop Capitals Strength Opportunities Huge human resource without skills, agricultural labour, skills of poultry and Skill development in organic farming, Universities and technical colleges for Human pisciculture already exist, crab and fish skill building. farming skills Desalinisation plant to use water for agriculture and freshwater pisciculture, Ensure treated arsenic free drinking water, Pond excavation to be carried out which is essential to store the rain water in season for general use and also for ground water recharge

Availability of land and Proper irrigation practice, drip-irrigation and spring irrigation system and livestock; brackish water; sunlight; Productive use of electricity through solar innovations mangroves; rich biodiversity; water bodies Natural Integrated farming practice, Build seed bank for different blocks so as to suit in every household, land for pisciculture the different weather conditions, Mangrove based aquaculture/pisciculture and and availability of indigenous paddy and Integrated crop-livestock system fish seeds Provide proper institutional guidance and infrastructure for multiple cropping in available cultivable land, Cash crops like spices, pulses, fruits and flowers can be an option if water is available, Promotion of Betel leaf cultivation and possibility of jute production in the region Hatchery units for prawn seeds and Promotion of organic fertilizers

Capitals Strength Opportunities Promotion of ecotourism and Medicinal plant cultivation and harness available biodiversity resource from the forest Need control over the local market broker for the welfare of the small Financial Schemes available with line departments household and agricultural producers and develop skills to access schemes among the community, Scientifically done embankment and canal and improved sluice gate, Improved irrigation practices and rain water harvesting practices Preservation and food processing industry and cold storage unit and also ways Markets, road connectivity, Physical for transparent market and fair price should be looked into communication facilities Early warning system and Disaster Risk Reduction Practices incorporated in all sectors Need better transportation sector, modernized health infrastructure and improved communication facilities to suit the need of the community Rural Community especially women Promotion of small household cottage industry and training centre and Micro- Social empowered for SHG insurance schemes or products relevant to the area may be developed

3.3. Outcome of the event

Symptoms of changing climate—such as greater frequency and severity of extreme weather events, changes to average temperature and precipitation, and sea level rise—have implications for a Sundarbans environmental and socio-economic situation. Just as environmental management and development affect each other, climate change poses a risk to its development—and development planning should take account of the anticipated impacts of climate change.

In general, climate change is likely to have a negative impact on the poor by affecting the following: (i) poor people’s livelihoods and the assets upon which they depend (e.g. forests, water, shelter), (ii) vulnerability of these populations to changing environmental risks (e.g. through the loss of assets, vulnerable settlements, health problems), (iii) health of the poorest groups (e.g. affected by water-, air- and vector-borne and infectious diseases, malnutrition, accidental deaths, disrupted access to health services, displacement) and (iv) economic development, which is critical to eradicating poverty (e.g. through diversion of funds to relief and rehabilitation, disrupted government revenues, or losses of agricultural and fisheries productivity).

The vulnerability of Sundarbans community to the effects of climate change depends not only on the magnitude of climatic stress, but also on the sensitivity and capacity of affected community to adapt to or cope with such stress: (i) sensitivity to climatic stress is higher for activities entailing climate-dependent natural resources, such as agriculture and coastal resources—often critical for the livelihoods of the poor, (ii) capacity to adapt and cope depends upon many factors including wealth, technology, education, institutions, information, skills and access to resources, which are generally scarce in poor countries and communities and (iii) vulnerability recognizes that socio-economic systems play a role in amplifying or moderating the impacts of climate change.

Mainstreaming climate change adaptation can be seen as requiring three levels of intervention. Each of the following levels requires changes in the way line departments in the State of West Bengal Government or Sundarbans Affairs Department deals with policymaking, budgeting, implementation and monitoring at national, sector and subnational levels.

1. The first level consists of making development efforts consciously aimed at reducing vulnerability (not necessarily to climate change) while avoiding maladaptation. This can be seen as strengthening the base for adaptation by addressing the adaptation deficit and increasing the overall resilience of the population. 2. The second level is about ensuring that climate change is considered in the decision making of relevant government agencies so that (mainstream) policy measures catering to climate change are developed. This means not only climate-proofing policies but also addressing emerging needs for adaptation within the different sectors or geographical areas.

3. The third level calls for specific adaptation policy measures targeting issues that the first two levels have not yet tackled. Climate change adaptation is a subset of disaster risk reduction. Taking into account the experience gained through the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and in pursuance of reducing mortality, minimizing economic and infrastructure losses, and getting countries to commit to disaster risk reduction strategies, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted on March 18, 2015. Ecosystem based approaches have been acknowledged.

The poverty-environment mainstreaming approach set out in Mainstreaming Poverty Environment Linkages into Development Planning: A Handbook for Practitioners (UNPEI 2009)1 approach can be used as a framework for adaptation mainstreaming thus building on climate-related information, existing work and processes of the line departments and key recommendations from the stakeholder meetings held in Sundarbans (Fig 1):

1. Finding the entry points and making the case is concerned with setting the stage for mainstreaming. Adaptation-specific activities include understanding the linkages between climate change, development and poverty as well as the governmental, political and institutional contexts relevant to adaptation (e.g. climate policies, plans and programmes; current level of mainstreaming; roles and mandates; coordination mechanisms). Adaptation mainstreaming also requires specific awareness raising and partnerships, in particular among climate specialists, planners and financiers. 2. Mainstreaming into policy processes focuses on integrating issues into an on-going policy process, based on Sundarban community blocks-specific evidence. Complementary to community blocks -specific evidence developed as part of a poverty- environment mainstreaming effort are, for example, impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments; socio-economic analysis of the costs and benefits of adaptation options; and the lessons drawn from adaptation demonstration projects. Based on this evidence, policy documents and measures need to be analysed in light of climate change, be climate-proofed and include additional priority interventions as appropriate. 3. Meeting the implementation challenge aims at ensuring mainstreaming into budgeting and financing, implementation and monitoring. Adaptation mainstreaming requires investing in climate change monitoring and forecasting (both science and policy related) as part of broader national monitoring efforts. Budgeting and financing adaptation means both integrating adaptation into national systems and leveraging special funding sources and modalities. Policy measures at different levels include both general measures revisited with a climate lens and adaptation-specific measures.

1 UNPEI (United Nations Development Programme–United Nations Environment Programme Poverty Environment Initiative). 2009a. Mainstreaming Poverty-Environment Linkages into Development Planning: A Handbook for Practitioners. Nairobi: UNDP-UNEP.

Fig 1: Enabling the Environment for Resilient Livelihoods

Legal & Institutional Capacity Policy structures and Development and Frameworks coordination Local Support

Decentralized Promote and DRR capacity in support livelihood community Sector specific DRR related sectors Promote and Sectoral representation in the national DRR based DRR (local (agriculture, aquaculture / support approaches structures and platforms authorities, rural development) policies research during extension development services, CSO's, planning and CBO's etc.)

Policies to Coordination Institutional Partnerships in support among relevant structure in place to technologies Poverty line ministries place to support DRR in and practices (agriculture, Reduction support DRR in sectors while that build fishries, natural Strategies development development resilience in resources, food planning planning these sectors safety)

4. Lessons learnt 4.1. Salient features

1. Sundarbans Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal to realise the outcome of the events agreed strong commitment and involvement of political leadership in the implementation and follow-up of the recommendations. As such, the events agreed on the need for focused action in two priority areas: understanding the Climate- Development-Poverty Linkages, and understanding the Governmental, Institutional and Political Contexts. 2. The events paved the way to apply a climate lens and identify how to address climate change risks in relation to an initiative and perceive that adaptation is a cross-cutting issue. 3. The events also paved the way to implement the ecosystem based adaptation options opined in Sendai Framework that will require strong commitment and political leadership. The support from the Chief Minister Office, elected representatives from the state and Government Departments throughout the events was well received and is vital to the achieve overall objective of the events.

4.2. Challenges faced in approaches

1. Planning meeting was to be done with the Sundarban Affairs Dept. Based on discussion with the concerned Minister in April 2015, it was decided that 4 meetings would be conducted as part of the planning meetings. Getting district and block level bureaucratic buy-in proved difficult. Consequently a bottom up approach was adopted, and four meetings were held between Mar 2015 & February 2016, with the CBOs and NGOs. Findings from these workshops will be collated for dissemination workshop.

2. The participants were finding it difficult to plan beyond 10 years and got focussed on what needs to be done at present situations to build resilience in sectors like infrastructure, agriculture, social development, disaster risk reduction, land use planning, water and health to present vulnerability context in Sundarbans.

4.3. Degree of engagement by different stakeholders

According to the International Association for Public Participation, public participation involves five elements in increasing order of public influence (IAP2 2007). The Stakeholder Engagement Spectrum below outlines the ways the stakeholders were engaged according to each of the five engagement levels (inform, consult, involve, collaborate and empower).

Table 3: Level of engagement amongst different stakeholders

Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

To provide To obtain To work directly To partner with To place final balanced, objective, feedback from with stakeholders the stakeholder decision making in accurate and stakeholders on throughout the including the the hands of the consistent outcomes. process to ensure development of stakeholder. information to that their alternatives, assist stakeholders concerns and making decisions to understand the needs are and the problem, consistently identification of

alternatives, understood and preferred opportunities considered. solutions.

Stakeholder engagement engagement Stakeholder goal and/or solutions. 1. Background 1. Focus 1. Preparing 1. Focus group 1. Facilitation if paper group workshop discussion direct dialogue discussion agenda and and question 2. Presentations 2. Facilitated

thematic and answer and consensus areas for sessions deliberations during discussion between deliberations 3. Open House stakeholders and 3. Sharing government challenges and representatives. opportunities 2. Joint planning and brainstorming.

Methods of engagement of Methods

4.4. General recommendations for follow up tasks

1. WWF will aim to convene a dissemination workshop with the relevant departments and the said consolidated report will be circulated among the relevant departments at the State level after assembly elections.

5. Annex 5.1. Background Materials circulated for the Event

Sundarbans Planning Meeting

Backdrop

The Sundarbans delta is one of the most ecologically fragile and climatically vulnerable regions in India. The region supports rich biodiversity and as well as a population of more than 4.5 million population. This population, living in fifty-four low lying islands of Sundarbans, depend almost entirely on paddy cultivation for their subsistence and livelihoods. These islands are prone to changing weather patterns, erratic storms and cyclones and rising sea levels, which often cause flooding of agricultural fields with brackish water, destroying the high yielding varieties of paddy crops as well as indigenous paddy varieties that cannot withstand salinity.

In the absence of the needed new adaptive solutions this environmentally and economically important area is rapidly heading towards an uncertain future. Government programs or initiatives are yet insufficient to mitigate the current water resources, ecosystem management (delta management) or possible climate change effects.

Keeping the above in mind, planning meetings are envisaged in all the subdivision of Sundarbans. The meetings will engage representatives from the grassroots of Indian Sundarbans to share and discuss innovations in primary livelihood activities, role of women and appropriate infrastructure development to build climate resilience of communities and sustainable development. It is planned to develop sustainable and climate resilient plan for the Sundarbans. At the end of consultations, a Sundarban Planning meeting is scheduled at Kolkata involving all concerned Government stakeholders to discuss the outcome from these meetings and finalize the recommendations before sending to the World Bank.

Data for Canning Sub-division

Blocks Canning I Canning II Basanti Gosaba Household 36051 47264 69295 58197 Population 181508 241331 330092 246598 Poverty ratio (% of 31.05 50.32 64.89 38.03 household) Standard of living rank 15 27 29 19 Poverty rank 16 28 29 21 Agricultural land

(Ha.) Aman 15134 16160 24556 27022 Boro 3260 6135 959 870 Production ('000 MT) Aman 32.614 26.23 47.476 66.908 Boro 8.989 18.581 1.58 1.813 paddy, pulses, oil paddy, pulses, oil paddy, oil seeds, Main crops paddy, potato seeds, potato seeds, potato potato Persons engaged in 70546 122536 136595 123472 agriculture No. of irrigation 925 1534 4497 8253 source Irrigated area (ha.) 2637.45 2655.79 2071.15 1868.79 Pisciculture Available area for 6740 7145 2350 3637 pisciculture Effective area under 4588 5068 1855 2720 pisciculture No. of persons 36125 40600 16585 24640 engaged Annual production 78245 78932 36562 58668 (Quintal) Livestock & poultry Cow 35877 33191 93256 91404 Buffallo 954 1081 1775 855 Goat 31149 37285 56297 75231 Sheep 12044 22314 33131 38069 Poultry chicks 177506 262358 271808 331654 Infrastructure Length of road- 544.51 557.76 326.19 142.58 surfaced (km) Length of road- 1212.85 873.34 647.43 900.3 unsurfaced (km)

Blocks Canning I Canning II Basanti Gosaba No. of ferry service 1 1 10 42 Distance of nearest 1 13 16 36 railway station

Data for Baruipur and Diamond harbour Sub-division

Mathurapur Mathurapur Blocks Jaynagar I Jaynagar II Kultali I II Household 45706 47650 45099 35183 45888 Population 216829 239784 229053 169263 220839 Poverty ratio (% 39.57 42.6 46.36 34.43 39.56 of household)

Standard of 20 22 24 17 21 living rank

Poverty rank 17 20 25 19 22

Agricultural land 6266 13315 6506 12638 8520 (Ha.) Aman 274 88 3337 624 2729 Boro Production ('000 16.371 29.11 12.187 29.098 16.818 MT) Aman 1.025 0.321 12.891 2.393 8.673 paddy, pulses paddy, paddy, (khesari, masoor, khesari, Boro gram, paddy paddy, mustard, til khesari, gram, mustard, masoor), mustard, potato mustard, potato potato Main crops 44174 53671 83104 50909 69358

Persons engaged 2149 1867 2094 2157 3543 in agriculture

No. of irrigation 3253 881 1910 4372 3467 source Irrigated area

(ha.) Pisciculture 1500 2000 3743 898 2690

Mathurapur Mathurapur Blocks Jaynagar I Jaynagar II Kultali I II Available area 1185 1525 2915 675 2150 for pisciculture Effective area under 10295 13515 25480 5765 16480 pisciculture No. of persons 29070 36790 71534 18390 48600 engaged Annual production (Quintal) Livestock & 28216 36865 54666 25650 45624 poultry Cow 22 580 614 1243 596 Buffallo 24875 36098 33554 28274 33338 Goat 1009 12312 9614 5882 8412 Sheep 161195 168041 147763 122449 170332 Poultry chicks Infrastructure 467.07 520.14 189.91 478 456.7 Length of road-surfaced 2896.8 886.41 682.42 787.65 549.71 (km) Length of road- 2 1 13 0 6 unsurfaced (km) No. of ferry 1 3 21 3 16 service

Data for Basirhat Sub-division

Minakha Hasnaba Hingalgun Sandeshkhali- Sandeshkhali- Blocks Haroa n d j I II Household 46888 42120 46300 42117 37344 37771 Population 214401 191973 197014 159469 164465 160976 Poverty rank 18 20 13 19 22 21 Agricultural land (Ha.) Aman 5730 6014 9946 10541 5976 2191 Boro 1833 656 1795 0 17 1042 Total 7563 6670 11741 10541 5993 3233 Production

('000 MT) Aman 13.505 14.939 27.508 19.139 11.793 3.073 Boro 5.595 2.108 5.819 0 0.044 2.414 Total 19.1 17.047 33.327 19.139 11.837 5.487 production Per ha. Production 2.525 2.556 2.839 1.816 1.975 1.697 (MT/Ha.) Paddy, wheat, pulses paddy, (mas wheat, paddy, kalai) jute, pulses paddy, jute, wheat, paddy, jute, Main crops Mustard (masoor, mustard, paddy, til mustard, wheat , til, mas kalai), potato potato potato, mustard, sugar til, potato cane, jute Persons engaged in 66802 75810 65860 94666 67499 75304 agriculture No. of irrigation source 4205 3445 3265 3917 2455 5300 (tank & STW) Irrigated 4485 2405 3745 1847 2340 2795 area (ha.) Pisciculture Available area for 9124.85 6789.95 2375.78 1186.03 6031.77 2868.47 piscicultur e Effective 8668.61 6450.46 2257 1126.73 5730.18 2725.04 area under

Minakha Hasnaba Hingalgun Sandeshkhali- Sandeshkhali- Blocks Haroa n d j I II piscicultur e No. of persons 18468 17638 20439 12243 11413 12346 engaged Annual production 260058 193514 67710 33802 171905 81751 (Quintal) Livestock & poultry Cow 19060 35309 29651 59905 20383 37992 Buffallo 4 120 25 2520 17 720 Goat 22594 23200 43130 55044 38047 28101 Sheep 0 0 0 0 0 0 Poultry 244152 184954 497190 271307 104091 146224 chicks Infrastructur e Length of road- 53.41 30.5 66.2 703.47 431.8 29 surfaced (km) Length of road- 107 150 46 270 148 165.2 unsurfaced (km) No. of ferry 2 7 5 10 5 11 service Distance of nearest 6 20 1 16 27 25 railway station

Data for Kakdwip Sub-division

Blocks Kakdwip Namkhana Sagar Patharpratima Household 60201 41433 43716 69641 Population 281963 182830 212037 331823 Poverty ratio (% of household) 34.91 48.17 44.17 49.13 Standard of living rank 18 25 25 26 Poverty rank 18 26 26 24 Agricultural land (Ha.) Aus 0 0 634 0 Aman 13755 16649 16098 30948 Boro 47 76 178 47 Production ('000 MT) Aus 0 1.485 Aman 32.523 40.224 35.404 70.889 Boro , 0.279 0.653 0.173 Main crops Paddy, wheat, Paddy, Paddy, Khesari, Paddy, Khesari, Khesari, Khesari, Potato, sugarcane Potato potato potato Persons engaged in agriculture 87909 74677 80073 211748 No. of irrigation source 3301 13338 12269 16136 Irrigated area (ha.) 3903.03 2329.87 3618.92 3247.49 Pisciculture Available area for pisciculture 3113 3285 3600 5600 Effective area under pisciculture 2110 2375 2522 3922 No. of persons engaged 19795 21550 26575 37845 Annual production (Quintal) 50350 55640 52880 49300 Livestock & poultry Cow 35146 79188 66079 98235 Buffalo 662 51 3 193 Goat 21929 70301 34257 81089 Sheep 2918 11711 6205 43531 Others 1143 895 129 517 Poultry chicks 124040 232716 128901 261516 Infrastructure Length of road-surfaced (km) 526 420.88 310.12 329.66

Blocks Kakdwip Namkhana Sagar Patharpratima Length of road- unsurfaced (km) 721.45 1042.75 1215.76 1495.65 No. of ferry service 18 5 4 37 Distance of nearest railway station 2 3 30 44

5.2. List of participants (or persons consulted/interviewed)

Participants of Canning Sub-Division Meeting at Basanti

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 1 Sri Dilip Sardar Joygopalpur Gram Vikash Kendra 2 Smt. Soma Haldar Vill : Joygopalpur, P.O. : J.N. Hat, P.S. : Basanti, 3 Sri Biswajit Haldar Dist : South 24 Parganas 4 Sri Asim Karali [email protected] 5 Sri Ramaprasad Pramanik Phone : 03218-203020, 09732522848 6 Smt. Anita Boral 7 Sri Badal Maharana 8 Sri Nemai Bhandari 9 Sri Haladhar Bar 10 Sri Biswajit Mahakur, Secretary

11 Sri Pradyut Mandal, Secretary Chandipur Mother & Child Health Welfare Society Vill : Chandirpur, P.O. Botokhali Chandipur, P.S. Gosaba, Dist. South 24 Parganas Pin : 743611 (Sundarban),West Bengal [email protected] Ph : (+91) 9733569658 12 Sri Dibakar Shasmal, Secretary Gosaba Annesha For Science Vill+P.O- Gosaba , PS. Gosaba, South 24 Parganas Ph. 9732604674, [email protected], [email protected] 13 Smt. Anjana Das (Mondal), Sree Maa Matritirtha Mohila Samity Secretary Vill+P.O.- Satyonarayanpur , PS. Gosaba, South 24 Parganas 14 Smt. Chandana Mandal, Treasurer Ph. 8001190013

15 Sri Prodip Kr. Mridha, Secretary Sunderban Unnyan Niketan Vill+PO. Sonakhali, Basanti Ph. 9733491611, [email protected] 16 Sri Subrata Roy, Coordinator South Health Improvement Society (SHIS) Bhangar, South 24 Parganas, 743 502, Kolkata office: 17 Mosian Rahman C/o M. A. Wohab, Flat No. 1A/14, 4th Floor, East Enclave Housing Society, Kolkata 700 156, [email protected], 9830031780 18 Dr. Haran Ali Molla, Secretary Sundarban Rural Medical Doctor's Welfare Association (Basanti) Harishpur, Gosaba, South 24 Pgs [email protected] 19 Dr. Jummon Ali Shaikh, Secretary 9836711608, 9830618994 (Gosaba) 20 Sri Anil Krishna Mistry, Secretary Bali Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society Vill. Bali 9 No., P.O.: Bali Hatkhola,

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. P.S. Gosaba, 24 Parganas South [email protected], 9732532747 21 Smt. Rupali Mohanti, Secretary Arpan Mahila Samiti Vill. P.O. & P.S. - Kundarali Dist. - South 24 Parganas, Pin – 743312 [email protected], 03218-232646, 9434619980 22 Smt. Susmita Mondal, Secretary Kalidashpur Bonany Society Vill+ P.O. - Kalidashpur , PS- Chomollakhali (Costal), South 24 Parganas, Ph. 8609116796 23 Sri Sudhir Kr. Mondal, President Alapan Sechhasebi Sanstha Vill- Hinchakhali, PO.- Nikarighata 9093103056 24 Sri Gopal Ch. Sardar, Member

25 Sri Ashish Kumar Bepari, Secretary Gourdha Pally Sree Voluntary Organisation Vill and P.O: Gourdha, PS: Canning, South 24 Parganas, PIN – 743363, 033-28550365, 9775597773, [email protected] 26 Sri Sankar Naskar, Secretary Harbhangi Balak Sangha Vill+P.O- Harbhangi P.S-Basanti, Dist-South24parganas. 27 Sri Dhiman Mal, Member Pin-743329 9153022431, [email protected] 28 Sri Pradip Devnath, Field Manager Sundarban Harishpur Society for Human Resource Improvement Vill & P.O.: Harishpur, P.S.: Gosaba South 24 Parganas, WEST BENGAL, PIN- 743370 03218-214401, 09836868989, [email protected] 29 Smt. Manju Roy, Social Worker Sundarban Nari O Sishu Bikash Kendra Vill. - Rajarlat (Golkuthipara), P.O. - Canning Town, P.S. - Canning, Dist. - South 24 Parganas, W.B., Pin - 743329 03218-255257, 9609127991, [email protected] 30 Smt. Pampa Ghosh, Social Worker Goranbose Gram Bikash Kendra Vill. - Rajarlat, P.O. - Canning Town, 31 Smt. Minakshi Mandal, P.S. - Canning, Dist. - South 24 Parganas, Communication Officer Pin No. – 743329 03218-255257, 9434500881, [email protected]

Participants of Bashirhat Sub-Division Meeting at Dhamakhali

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 1 Shri Palash Mondal, Secretary Sundarban Unnayan Bhaban Vill + P.O.: Kalitala, Hingalganj, P.S. Hemnagar Coastal, North 24 Pgs – 743439 Contact No- 9932000219 [email protected] 2 Sri Bishnupada Mridha, Secretary Paschim Sridharkathi Janakalyan Samiti Vill & P.o- Paschim Sridharkati P.s- Hingalganj (Sundarban), Dist- North 24 Parganas 3 Sri Sahadeb Gayen, President Pin -743439 Contact No- 9002005292 [email protected] 4 Sri Gour Gopal Sardar, Secretary Bashirhat Vidyasagar New Education and Welfare Society 5 Sri Khudiram Mondal, Coordinator Vill: Gulai Chandi, Pin: 743429 Contact no. 9434080093 [email protected] 6 Mezman Ali, Secretary Swayestanagar Swanirbhar Mahila Samity Vill + P.O.: Swayestanagar, Baduria, North 24 Pgs Contact No-9733852499 [email protected] 7 Sri R Mondal Korakati Maa Hazari Sharda Ashram Vill + P.O: Korakati, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9635579857 8 Sri Joydeb Mondal, Secretary Ghipukuria Swami Vivekananda Smrity Welfare Association Vill: Ghipukuria, P.O.: Nimichi, Minakhan, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9832986762, 9333277332 9 Sri Ramkrishna Maity, Asst. Sulkuni Phanindra Student Sangha Secretary Vill + P.O.: Sulkuni, PS. Hasnabad, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9593437363 10 Sri Suranjan Das, Secretary Sundarban Fulbari Social Improvement Sociaty Vill + P.O.: Fulbari, P.S. Minakhan, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9609622102 11 Rintu Molla, Secretary Dhamakhali Dishari Sangha Vill. Dhamakhali, P.O. Rampur, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9153102233 12 Sr. Sukumar Mondal, Secretary Nalkora Pally Unnayan Samity P.O. Nalkora, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 7063908072, 9775008990 [email protected] 13 Sri Nitish Kumar Mondal, Korakati Santosh Kumar Mondal Smriti Sishu Mongal Secretary Vidyapith 14 Sri Arabinda Roy Mondal, P.O Korakati, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas President Contact no. 9433304052, 8158897680

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 15 Smt. Bina Maity Nazat Maa Adya Shakti Mahamaya Mahila Samity P.O. Nazat, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas 16 Sri Dinabandhu Das, Secretary Joygopalpur Youth Development Centre Joygopalpur, Sandeshkhali II, North 24-Parganas – 743446 Contact no. 9732630178, [email protected] 17 Sri Gautam Mondal, Secretary Netaji Smriti Sangha hulna, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Pgs – 743446 Contact No- 9732586327 [email protected] 18 Sri Samir Ali Vill + P.O. Bermajur, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9635958691 19 Sri tapas Ali Vill + P.O. Bermajur, Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 7699668395 20 Sri Debendranath Mondal, Gobindakati Sundarban Janakalyan Samity President Gobindakati, Hingalganj, North 24 Parganas – 743439 Contact no. 9679950998, [email protected] 21 Sri Dulal Ch. Mondal Gorainagar Agnibina Sangha Gorainagar, Haroa, North 24 Parganas Contact No-9933130187 [email protected] 22 Shri Paresh Chandra Das Joygopalpur Nabaday Sangha Joygopalpur, Sandeshkhali II, 23 Sri Krishnapada Paik North 24-Parganas – 743446 Contact No-9732594917, 9733635606 24 Shri Shyamal Nath, Secretary Dakshin Akhratala Swami Vivekananda Krisak Sangha Vill. Nazat (Dakshin Akhratala), P.O. Nazat. Hatkhola, P.S.Sandeshkhali,Dist.North 24 Pgns. Pin. 743 442Contact No- 8158075695 [email protected], [email protected] 25 Sri Bhupati Bhusan Pramanya, North Sundarban Pronobananda Mission President Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas Contact no. 9153761917

Participants of Baruipur and Diamond Harbour Sub-Divisions Meeting at Joynagar

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 1 Sri Paritosh Halder, Secretary Jata Nagendrapur Social Development Society Vill.& P.O- Nagendrapur, P.S. Raidighi, Mathurapur-II, 24 Pgs ( S ) 743383 [email protected], 9733501537 2 Sri Suman Kalyan Maiti, Project Baikunthapur Sishu Seva Kendra Manager P.O & Vill. Baikunthapur, Via – Raidighi, Kultali, 24-Parganas South - 7433383 Contact No-9932912552 [email protected] 3 Sri Nirmal Jana, Project Village & P.O.: Nandakumarpur Coordinator District: South 24 Parganas, Pin:743349 Contact no. 2441 4357, 9083480013 [email protected], [email protected] 4 Sri Bijendra Baidya, Founder Shatamukhee Paribesh Kalyan Kendra Vill. & P.O: Kashinagar, P.S.: Raidighi, South 24 Parganas 743349 Contact No-9932409375 [email protected] 5 Sri Mukunda Sutradhar, Asst. Lutheran World Service India Trust Manager, Project Design and 84, Dr Suresh Sarkar Road Implementation Kolkata-700 014 Contact No- 2284 9200 / 9730 / 973 [email protected] 6 Sri Srimanta Kuman Mondal, Bijoyganje Basundhara Organization for Social Service Secretary Contact No-9093471681, 9733818654 [email protected] 7 Sri Mrinal Samanta, Advisor Purba Gurguria Nibedita Mahila Samity Vill Purba Gurguria, P.O. Madhya Gurguria, P. S. Kultali, South 24 Parganas Contact No-8116106764 8 Sri Himansu Sekhar Senapati, Purba Gurguria Farmars’ Club Advisor Contact no. 99321291125 9 Sri Susanta Giri, Secretary Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha Vill+PO. Baikunthapur , Contact No-9733524070 [email protected] 10 Sri Amitava Roy, General Secretary Lokmata Rani Rashmani Mission 11 Smt. Sita Gayen P.O. Nimpith Ashram, South 24 Parganas, Pin 743338 12 Smt. Aruna Das, Office Assistant Contact No-9433219813,(03218)226028 13 Sri Ramen Mondal, Office Staff Email: [email protected] 14 Sri Debiprasad Roy, Coordinator 15 Smt. Gitali Ghosh, Secretary Majilpur Gitanjali Vill. & P.O.: Joynagar Mojilpur Duttapara, South 2 Parganas Contact No-9239497322

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 16 Sri Arun Middya, Secretary Nimpith Handicapped Welfare Society Contact No-9932655582 [email protected]

Participants of Kakdwip Sub-Division Meeting at Kakdwip

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 1 Smt. Shyama Biswas, Savapati Pathar Pratima Panchayat Samity Contact no. 9609373821 2 Smt. Anita Maity, Savapati Sagar Panchayat Samity Contact no. 9735605136 3 Sri Srimanta Mali, Savapati Namkhana Panchayat Samity Contact no. 9735355512 4 Sri Bankim Chandra Hazra, MLA Sagar Constituency Contact no. 9434062539 5 Sri Samir Kumar Jana, MLA Pathar Pratima Constituency Contact no. 9732624967 6 Sri Uttam Kumar Jana, Upa Rudranagar GP, Sagar Pradhan Contact no. 9800540653 7 Sri Debkumar Gayen, Upa Pradhan Ramkarchar GP, Sagar Contact no. 7384137365 8 Sri Debdulal Sahoo, Secretary Bhubannagar Rural Development Society Bhubannagar, Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas Contact no. 9732535398 9 Sri Prabir Tiwari, Secretary Udayan Sangha Club & Ganendra Pathagar Dwariknagar, Namkhana Contact no. 9775565842 10 Upa Pradhan Netaji GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 8001013772 11 Smt. Kakoli Maji, Pradhan Rishi Bankim Chandra GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 9732401532 12 Sri Purna Chandra Mondal, Srinagar GP, Kakdwip Pradhan Contact no. 9735672866 13 Sri Subhankar Goldar, Secretary Halderchak Chetana Welfare Society P.O. Madhavnagar, P.S. Kakdwip, 24 Parganas South – 743 374 Contact no. 9734688757 14 Smt. Mithu Das, Secretary Ramprasad Smriti Sangha and Pathagar Vill + P.O – Shibkalinagar, P.S. & Block – Kakdwip, Dist. South 24 Parganas, Pin – 743374 Contact no. 9434569984 15 Sri Sumit Kumar Dinda, Pradhan Sri Sri Ramkrishna GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 9733631794 16 Sri Tapan Halder, Pradhan Pratapaditya GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 9593738073 17 Abdur Salam Molla, Upa Pradhan Netaji GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 8001013772

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. 18 Smt. Kabita Midya, Project In- SPAR, Durbachati, Pathar Pratima Charge Contact no. 9733553870 19 Sri Kalyan Kumar Maity Chemaguri Sri Ramkrishna Sevadal Contact no. 8906788560, 8900086828 20 Sri Apurba Kumar Maity [email protected] Sri Joy Bose, Block Disaster Kakdwip Block 21 Management Officer S K Ahmadulla Indranarayanpur Najrul Smriti Sangha 22 Ramganga, Patharprotima Contact no. 9775018764 23 Sri Bimal Patra Akshaya Nagar Pallisri Sangha Contact no. 8768004384 24 Sri Debasis Mandal, Member South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad Contact no. 9732928029 25 Sri Narayan Kar, Upa Pradhan Swami Vivekananda GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 9732627939 26 Sri Ahindra Kr. Ghosh Contact no. 9474132409 Sri Biswajit Halder Contact no. 9563037737 27 Sri Gaurhari Mandal, General Sagar Thana Sevadal 28 Secretary Contact no. 9635574171 Sri Bankim Chandra Das Sagar Congress Sevadal 29 Contact no. 9932520155 Sri Rabindranath Bera Krishi & Prani Sanchalok 30 Contact no. 9733961625 Sri Sanjib Sagar. Pradhan Ghoramara GP, Sagar 31 Contact no. 8159904285 Sri Sajal Kanti Barik, Pradhan Dhablat GP, Sagar 32 Contact no. 9734438588 33 Smt. Sharmila Rani, Pradhan Achinta Nagar GP Vill – Purba Sripatinagar P.O – Paschim Sripathinagar P.S – Patharpratima Contact no. 8001119477 34 Sri Rabindranath Bera, Prodhan Digambarpur GP Vill +P.O – Digambarpur P.S – Dhoblat Dist – South 24 Parganas Contact no. 9647508736 [email protected] Smt. Padmabati Mandal, Pradhan Ramganga GP 35 Vill + P.O – Biswanathpur P.S – Pathorpratima Dist – South 24 Parganas Contact no. 8768178976 Ramgangagp.@gmail,com Sri Gaurhari Das, Secretary Indrapur Dwipanchal Adarsha Seva Society 36 Vill + P.O – Indrapur

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. P.S – Pathorpratima Dist – South 24 Parganas Contact no. 9733985135 [email protected] Sri Mrinmoy Das, Member Narayanpur GP 37 Vill – Narayanpur P.O – Namkhana Dist – South 24 Parganas Contact no. 9932441118 Sri Dulal Dingal, Programme Tagore Society for Rural Development 38 Coordinator Sagar Project Vill – Kamalpur Dist – South 24 Parganas

Dr. Mantu Charan Das, Secretary Bamanagar Welfare Society 39 Vill – Bamanagar P.S – Kakdwip. Contact no. 9933326170 40 Sri Ramnarayan Bera, Chairman Bamanagar Welfare Society Vill – Bamanagar P.S – Kakdwip. Contact no. 9933839436 41 Sri Swapna Das, Upa Pradhan Sri Sri Ramkrishna GP, Kakdwip Contact no. 7602132275 42 Smt. Madhuri Giri, Secretary Sundarban Ramkrishna Sevaashram Contact no. 9474157085 43 Sri Ashim Kumar Jana, Sundarban Kalpataru Coordinator Contact no. 9609002977 44 Sri Sudipta Bhattacharya 45 Sri Biswajit Halder, Member SIDSA. Vill + P.O + P.S – Raidighi Dist – South 24 Parganas

Mazid Ali Seikh, General Secretary Society for Integrated Development & Social Action 46 Vill + P.O – Raidighi Sri Kalishankar Halder Dist – South 24 Parganas 47 Contact no. 9732672348 Alamgir Gazi 48 Md. Sahid Seikh 49 Ashif Alam Seikh 50 Sri Buddhadev Das, Sabhapati Kakdwip Panchayat Samiti 51 [email protected] Smt. Ranjita Mandal Society B.N.S 52 Dr. Kalyan Gangopadhyay. Sundarban Mahavidyalaya 53 Associate Professor Contact no. 9434361424 Smt. Smruti S Pattanaik. Research IDSA 54 Fellow New Delhi Contact no. 9810991723

Sl. Name & Designation Organization No. Sri Sanjoy Gupta. Consultant World Bank 55 70 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003 Contact no. 9811096906 [email protected] Sri Manturam Pakhira MIC – Sundarbans Affairs Department, GOWB 56

5.3. Details of Photos and videos

To be shared separately in electronic form