The doughty womenfolk of Sundarbans - the world's largest mangrove forest - have made good use of cameras to highlight the daily grind they go through in the absence of infrastructure, particularly healthcare and safe drinking water, in the region.
The ordinary women picked up the cameras in the fond hope that it would help put the focus of the state government as well as national and international organisations to the sorry state of affairs they and children of Sunderbans -- ravaged by cyclone Aila in May 2009 -- are forced to put up with on a daily basis.
A community-led research initiative of the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), project 'Photo Voice' includes a series of photographs taken by these women.
Also part of the initiative is a 27-minute film 'How Healthy are the Children of the Indian Sundarbans' that documents critical problems faced by children. It was released here on Friday.
Photos clicked by Suchandra Das highlight both the lack of safe drinking water and healthcare. There are vivid shots of ponds, and womenfolk walking for miles to get drinking water for their families.
"Women often have to walk for nearly an hour to fetch drinking water. Most ponds in the region are used simultaneously for bathing, washing utensils, and even toilet purposes. Even utensils used in midday meals are washed in these ponds," Das said.
Barnali Giri has captured the almost non-existent infrastructure on the islands of Sunderbans.
"Most roads are nothing but heaps of rubble and mud and get flooded during high tide. On the other hand, almost all health centres are ill-equipped.
"Due to unavailability of oxygen at our health centre, a pregnant women died while she was being taken to Kolkata. Besides, most of us have to depend on quacks as there are not many qualified doctors," lamented Giri.
Prawn seed collection is one of the mainstays of livelihood for womenfolks in the region, but has led to serious health problems among them.
"Besides prawn seed, most of the crab collection is done by women. They have to stand in waist-deep water for hours. Contact with dirty water for long often causes uterine infections. Besides, women are vulnerable to crocodile attacks," said Bandana Haldar, one of the photographers.
Health economist Barun Kanjilal, who headed both the projects, said the "twin initiatives were aimed at globalising the plights of the people of Sundarbans".
"The IIHMR has been carrying out researches about healthcare in the Sundarbans for the past six years. Both the new initiatives are an attempt to globalise the plight of the people whose struggles seem to be never-ending," said Kanjilal.
"Photo Voice is a powerful means as the sufferers themselves have come out with evidence of their daily struggles.
"We have only helped them by providing training and equipment. The real credit goes to the ordinary women who, despite all their hardships, did a wonderful job in the hope for a better tomorrow," Kanjilal added.
The IIHMR professor said both the documentary and 'Photo Voice' would be handed over to the state government as well as national and international organisations working in the Sundarbans for remedial action.
(Anurag Dey can be contacted at anurag.d@ians.in)
