Sundarbans Under Siege: How the Climate Crisis Fuels Migration and Exploitation Risks for Local Communities

Canning, West Bengal: Rituri, a 23-year-old woman, thought a job offer from her village dance teacher would change her family’s fortune. After cyclones destroyed their home by the Matla River, she felt desperate for a way out. Her father had left for the Andaman Islands to find work in 2016. The job promised 40,000 rupees a month as a background dancer in Delhi—an amount she had never imagined seeing. With hopes high, Rituri moved to Delhi, but her reality turned grim. Instead of dancing, she found herself working in a sweatshop for only 12,000 rupees a month. Living conditions were dismal, confined with two other girls in a tiny, hot room. Though she sent some money home initially, she eventually returned, disillusioned.

This story reflects a broader issue in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem. Many migrate with hopes of better opportunities, only to end up in low-paying jobs or worse—trafficking. Severe poverty impacts nearly half of the Sundarbans’ population, especially marginalized communities, prompting 75% of families surveyed to have at least one member migrate for work, as a 2013 study indicates.

Climate change accelerates migration trends. Increasing sea levels and frequent cyclones threaten the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen. Years ago, only men would venture away for work. Now, entire families, including women, are seeking better lives.

In terms of agriculture, saline soil significantly reduces crop yields. A report from the National Centre for Coastal Research details that 60.5% of West Bengal’s coast is eroding, impacting farming and fishing communities. The average elevation in the Sundarbans is less than a meter above sea level, making flooding a constant threat. The UN Environmental Programme warns that many delta islands are disappearing, creating a wave of environmental refugees. These changes resonate in the findings of the 2023 review paper, which shows how rising sea levels and cyclones have altered both crop production and patterns in the area.

One such extreme event was Cyclone Aila in 2009. Tuhin Ghosh, a professor at Jadavpur University, notes that after Aila, many realized saline water had made crop cultivation impossible, triggering a significant spike in migration. Freshwater scarcity worsens as salinity intrudes, impacting agriculture and drinking water.

Meanwhile, families face emotional strain. Lakhman, an 11-year-old boy, sees his father Rabindra only a handful of times since 2014. Rabindra works in Gujarat while Lakhman stays behind, communicating via video calls. Such separations are common in migrating families, as they struggle with lost connections and support.

The dangers of migration are real. Fifteen-year-old Sudipto, who migrated in 2024, faced unpaid wages and harsh conditions before escaping back home. Experts like S. Irudaya Rajan from the International Institute of Migration and Development highlight the numerous challenges migrants face, such as language barriers and exploitation. A significant number, around 75%, fail to achieve their dreams, falling into debt, violence, or worse. Stories of young women being trafficked also illustrate how precarious situations can spiral, turning hopeful journeys into nightmares.

Usha Badui, a 36-year-old woman from Goshaba island, lives each day with uncertainty, having been homeless multiple times due to natural disasters. After her house was destroyed in 2019, she was given temporary shelter that was later washed away. Now, she stays in another makeshift structure, hoping for a better future for her children. “We are unsure of our future, just like the uncertain future of the Sundarbans,” she says.

As environmental and economic pressures mount, the situation in the Sundarbans serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding migration—a tapestry of hope, struggle, and survival entwined with the harsh realities of climate change.

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