Archive · 24 Dec 2025
Blind Man Leads 200 Homemakers to Revive Sundarbans Mangroves
A man named Akul Biswas, who cannot see, started a group called Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB) with over 200 homemakers.
They plant mangrove trees in the Sundarbans, a place in India that often gets hit by big storms called cyclones.
These trees help protect their homes from floods and strong winds.
The group has planted many trees over the years, and it has helped keep their village safe during big storms.
The trees also help keep the soil in place and make the area better for animals and plants.
The group faces challenges like not having enough money, but they keep working to save their home and the environment.
Akul Biswas, a visually challenged individual, leads over 200 homemakers in the Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB) to plant mangrove saplings in the Sundarbans.
The mangroves act as a natural barrier against cyclones and flooding, protecting the villages and river embankments.
The group has planted over 5,00,000 saplings covering 100 hectares, significantly reducing the impact of cyclones like Yaas in 2021.
The Sundarbans region is highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea levels and increased cyclone intensity threatening the livelihoods of the local communities.
The JSB faces challenges such as funding shortages and the need for livelihood support to encourage more women to join the environmental efforts.
- Who
- Akul Biswas and over 200 homemakers from Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB)
- What
- Reviving mangrove forests in the Sundarbans to protect against cyclones and flooding
- When
- Planting occurs between October and January, with seeds collected in June
- Where
- Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India
- Why
- To protect homes and hearths from cyclones and flooding, and to preserve the ecological balance
- Location
- Jharkhali, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India
- Organization
- Jharkhali Sabuj Bahini (JSB)
- Leader
- Akul Biswas (visually challenged)
- Members
- Over 200 homemakers across 23 villages
- Mangrove Species
- Sundari, Gewa, Goran, Keora, Dhundul, Kankra
- Cyclones Faced
- Aila (2009), Fani (2019), Bulbul (2019), Amphan (2020), Yaas (2021)
- Area Covered
- 100 hectares with 5,00,000 saplings planted
- NGO Involved
- Society for Socio-Economic and Ecological Development (SEED)