• Dr. Mausumi Bandyopadhyay

Abstract: The district South 24 Parganas is located in the deltaic alluvial plain of river Ganga bordered by Bay of Bengal in the south. Luxuriant mangrove forest covers the southernmost islands intertwined by several estuaries. So natural resource endowment in terms of biotic and abiotic components is extensive. Obviously local people utilise these resources to fulfil their basic needs. Vast stretch of alluvial plain, brackish and fresh waterbodies, timber and non-timber forest products of this district provide livelihood of about Six million people. But utilisation of these resources is never optimum. Uncertainty and insecurity are the indispensable dimensions of their livelihood. Vulnerability of the inhabitants to the natural hazards along with bio-physical and socio-economic aspects are gradually increasing day by day. In the context of such a vulnerable situation a comprehensive study has been conducted in this district to find out the extent of dependence on natural resource base and to detect the nature of vulnerability experienced by the local people. Various statistical techniques inclusive of Borda score have been computed for working out Vulnerability Index. Through analysis of data base it is evident that agriculture is not profitable at all; the profit earned out of inland and marine fishing goes to middlemen and income generated from forestry is full of uncertainty. But, the local people have no alternative option to choose any other livelihood in this industrially backward district. Various Government and non-government projects have been executed here. But, maintaining the balance between environmental sustainability and people’s wellbeing in this fragile ecosystem is not an easy task, where the issue of carrying capacity often remains neglected.

fragile ecosystem, awareness generation, vulnerability, alternative livelihood

"Dependence on Natural Resources for Livelihood and Saga of Increasing Vulnerability in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 6, page no.c217-c221, June-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2206228.pdf

"Dependence on Natural Resources for Livelihood and Saga of Increasing Vulnerability in South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 6, page no. ppc217-c221, June-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2206228.pdf