For almost two decades, dedicated efforts have been tackling the severe challenges of saltwater intrusion and poor hygiene, especially menstrual health, in the Sundarbans. But solving these issues isn’t easy — especially in a region where every hard-earned rupee is vital for survival, making sustainable solutions even more urgent.

The Sundarbans, where land and sea intertwine in a breathtaking dance, is a testament to nature’s raw power and delicate beauty. This unique ecosystem, breathing with the rhythm of saltwater tides, is a fragile balance that sustains life.

However, this delicate balance is disrupted by natural calamities that frequently plague the region. One of the most devastating consequences of these events is saltwater intrusion, which contaminates freshwater sources, leaving communities without access to clean drinking water. Forced to resort to unhygienic practices, these communities face serious health risks.

“Access to fresh water has always been a pressing problem here. Once upon a time, local residents would use pond water and sometimes from the river, depending on their need,” says Soma Bera, a resident of Sagar Island in the Sundarbans.

“A lot of women would suffer from vaginal infections. This was extremely common among villagers. Even skin diseases were common. We realised that this was caused majorly by the use of toxic water from the ponds or the saline water that is mostly available,” Soma adds.

During natural calamities like cyclones, saltwater intrusion contaminates the village ponds. This, along with falling trees and dying organisms, creates a severely unhealthy environment. “And in a few days these villagers are forced to use the same water and from it comes diseases,” shares Mrinal Bhattacharya, the co-founder of the non-profit organisation ‘Society for Socio-Economic and Ecological Development’ (SEED).

Mrinal has been working in the Sundarbans for almost two decades, addressing the concern of saltwater intrusion and hygiene, particularly menstrual hygiene, in the region. However, finding measures to combat the issue is not as easy as one might think, especially for people in the Sundarbans where every earned penny is essential for their livelihood.

“Groundwater is incredibly scarce here. Even tubewells meant for drinking water are out of reach for most people — only wealthy families can afford them. Drilling a well costs anywhere between Rs 2 to 3 lakh, making it unaffordable for the poorer communities,” explains Mrinal.

Accessibility to freshwater

To address health and sanitation issues, including menstrual hygiene, SEED focuses on increasing freshwater access as a strategic approach to address the complex issues affecting the mangrove forest.

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme was executed in Sagar Island, where Soma lives. “For the programme, with the support of the World Bank, we started pond excavation. After the excavation, the embankments of the ponds were made a little higher so that saltwater intrusion does not happen,” explains Mrinal.

The model worked in favour of the people, turning out to be a success. “During the cyclones, where saltwater intrusion was common, these ponds with higher embankments were left untouched. In Ghoramara, we’ve dug similar ponds as well,” shares Mrinal.

However, access to everyday use of water continued to be an issue. Mrinal explains that he spoke to the departments concerned and tried to establish a few rainwater facilities. “We built small wells of concrete to collect where rainwater could be collected, and fixed tap connections to it.”

With the help of Bharat Petroleum, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, SEED undertook several tasks such as de-weeding the ponds and using bleaching power to clear out any infections, which was implemented on a regular basis.

Government agencies such as PHEs and their support have allowed them to successfully bring drinking water to every household. Additionally, SEED also helped dig tubewells to increase access to freshwater.

“SEED’s intervention started with the establishment of such tubewells, and people are now using the groundwater. This has been immensely beneficial for us, and we have water lines connecting to taps,” shares Soma.

Menstrual health management

While efforts to combat freshwater scarcity have provided some relief, the silent struggle of women in the Sundarbans continues. Bound by cultural taboos surrounding menstruation, women face significant challenges during their menstrual cycles. These taboos often leave them isolated and vulnerable, complicating their plight.

Saleya Bibi, a resident of Jharkhali Island, shares, “I used to tear sarees into strips and use them during my periods because pads were either too expensive or unavailable.”

Her story is not unique — millions of women across India face similar struggles. According to the National Family Health Survey (2015-16), only 36% of India’s 336 million menstruating girls and women had access to sanitary napkins and practised proper hygiene.

Financial constraints force women to rely on cloth instead of sanitary pads, but this practice comes with its own dangers. Cloths, which need sunlight to dry properly and eliminate germs, are often dried indoors in dark, humid spaces due to cultural taboos around menstruation. This leads to severe infections, adversely affecting their reproductive health.

“While addressing women’s health, the doctor’s team had identified that a lot of problems stemmed from vaginal infections and the root cause of this was unhygienic menstrual practices,” shares Mrinal.

“Cleaning themselves with highly saline water during their periods leads to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases (PID), and vaginal infections,” shares Alima Ahmad, the grant writer at SEED.

Mrinal highlights the sad reality faced due to the lack of awareness among the masses. “They ignore the disease and continue with their everyday lives. For some it becomes serious, for others, they get cured.”

The disposal of used cloths was another significant challenge. Many women discard the cloths in rivers or other open water bodies, which not only pollutes the environment but also exposes them to additional health risks.

“Most women would hide their menstruation. They would not want to talk about it; in fact, they would not even let their husbands know that they were menstruating,” shares Soma.

“I could not ask my husband to buy pads, nor can I go myself. I was worried about what others might think,” says Saleya, echoing the mindset of many women in her community.

Breaking the taboo: ‘Today, almost every woman uses sanitary napkins regularly’

Creating a safe space for women to openly discuss menstruation was a crucial first step. As Alima shares, “Breaking the taboo was a significant challenge, requiring considerable effort than expected.”

In association with the Panchayats, Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBO), SEED focused on conducting workshops and awareness programmes on a fortnightly basis around menstrual health management, which was an eye-opener for rural women.

Rituporna Nath, the communications manager at SEED, shares, “Initially, people were reluctant to attend these workshops. But as days passed, they were inspired by other women who benefited.”

“As a woman from a rural background, I understood the cultural constraints involved in menstrual practices. I myself used cloths during my adolescence. But that doesn’t mean we should accept this situation. We must raise awareness.” shares Rituporna.

Alima shares an incident when a male gynaecologist came to take the session. “Women were open to discussing their issues and actively participated in the learning process. In a scenario where women were reluctant to speak about periods to their male family members, this is an achievement,” Alima smiles.

“They (SEED) were the ones who first taught us what sanitary napkins are, why they are used, and what are the benefits of using them,” reflects Soma.

Each session ends with distributing two sanitary pad packets, enough to cover a woman’s needs for an entire menstrual cycle. The gesture is not just practical but symbolic, representing a shift in how women perceive their own needs. “Today, almost every woman uses sanitary napkins regularly,” Soma says.

“When Amphan and Aila [cyclones] happened, we were in a lot of trouble. Those were terrible times. People in Sagar Island suffer from poverty and do not have the ability to buy sanitary napkins. During the cyclone, our condition worsened. At that time SEED provided us with a lot of sanitary pads. Not only did using those help us maintain our physical health, but it also helped us mentally,” she adds.

The increased use of sanitary pads has fostered a more open dialogue about menstruation, even among men. This has led to a greater understanding of the challenges women face, creating a more supportive environment within households. As Soma joyfully shares, “We can now tell the men of our house that we need to buy sanitary napkins, and they go, buy napkins and give them to us.”

However, despite this progress, women still live under the patriarchal shadow. “Saleya is one of our success stories. She is not only practising the usage of sanitary pads regularly but also inspiring over a hundred women,” says Mrinal.

Soma personally wants every woman and girl to use sanitary napkins. “We do buy sanitary napkins on our own, but if SEED can continue to provide us with more, it would make a lot of difference,” she asserts.

Mrinal informs that today, Saleya and several other women in her locality have also taken to wall graffiti to spread awareness about menstruation and menstrual hygiene. 

“I can’t say that we have achieved 100% success in all areas we have intervened, but yes, over 70% of households have stopped the practices that could lead to health issues. Some taboos still exist and we have to continue working towards that,” states Mrinal.

Overcoming challenges, emphasising education

Mrinal acknowledges that the current measures are temporary solutions and require sustained funding and innovative approaches. He highlights the ongoing challenge of affordable sanitary pads. To address this, they are implementing a programme that empowers rural women to produce sanitary pads. “This has a dual benefit — generating income and providing women with access to essential products,” he explains.

Despite SEED’s notable progress, a disparity persists, with some community members yet to experience the full extent of the positive impact. To change this, the organisation plans to leverage digital media, such as short animation videos, to educate communities. 

“The irony is that even in a rural area like Ghoramara, people have internet and mobile phones but struggle to access clean water or sanitary pads,” says Rituporna, shedding light on the gap between awareness of wants and needs.

SEED emphasises the pivotal role of education in the development of the Sundarbans. “Without education, nothing can develop,” Mrinal asserts. To this end, they operate numerous non-formal coaching centres.

“In Sagar Island, we have a school dedicated only to the Lodha tribe. They are first-generation learners and have no academic environment in their households. We focus on joyful learning, impart knowledge through dance and music, and provide nutritious meals to invite them to attend schools,” says Mrinal.

“For example, 13 to 14-year-old girls who attend school now use sanitary napkins, which are disposed of in designated bins or facilities,” Soma explains, highlighting the improved quality of life in the Sundarbans.

Edited by Arunava Banerjee. All images courtesy SEED

First Published by The Better India on 12 December 2024.