LIVELIHOOD AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE SUNDARBANS’ DEPENDENT PEOPLE: CASE STUDIES ON NALIAN AND BURIGOALINI RANGES OF THE SUNDARBANS

The Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF) is playing a significant role in local and national economy and is providing protection to the coastline as well as to the people living in the Sundarbans Impact Zone (SIZ). Presently, the area provides a livelihood to an estimated 3.5 million people. This study deals with the livelihood pattern of the people using both primary and secondary data sources. The study identifies people with different livelihood activities such as munda, fishermen, bawali, golpata collectors, salt farmer etc. Most of them are seasonal workers and their over all socio-economic conditions are below standard.