Women Of The Wetlands

The Sundarbans is home to a sprawling, biodiverse wetland that straddles India and Bangladesh. Tropical cyclones frequently hit the area. The frequency and intensity of these storms are on the rise. In the Indian state of West Bengal, these extreme weather events are devastating homes and farmlands. In the aftermath of such disasters, men of many of these families are compelled to leave the region in pursuit of work. Tragically, the vacuum created by this migration becomes a breeding ground for opportunistic criminals who prey on these devastated communities. Women of all ages are preyed upon by shady characters, lured to the urban centres, and in some cases kidnapped. Some of these girls end up sold to brothels. The lucky few who manage to escape or are rescued, return home only to confront the social stigma attached to their traumatic experience. Cast aside by their communities many struggle to overcome their predicament. Women of the Wetlands is a story about how climate change has impacted the women of the Sundarbans and how they are fighting back.