Household Survey Data from Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna (GBM) delta (India)

The Indian Sundarbans are under tremendous pressure from both climate change and anthropogenic activities, where recurring natural disasters are impacting the lives and livelihoods of the local population. The Sundarbans ecosystem and forest-based livelihoods of the adjacent delta dwellers are in discreet balance, and disrupting the delicate balance between nature and human habitation could pose a serious threat to the socioeconomic structure of the region. Understanding the complex delta-dynamics is crucial for developing conservation policies, so the Living Delta Research Hub has undertaken a major project to apprehend the issues and subsequent changes observed in the coastal regions of the GBM-India delta. The four community development blocks, Sagar, Sandeshkhali-I, Gosaba, and Hingalganj, were chosen for this research as they are situated in the coastal stretch of Indian Sundarbans. To perceive the main challenges faced by the marginal community in terms of lives and livelihoods, the key objective of this project is to organize a thorough household survey, which will provide the foundation of this comprehensive analysis. These four blocks will represent the broader GBM delta and will help to recognize the diverse challenges faced by the coastal community. The Living Delta Research Hub aspires to obtain detailed information from the surveys, which will help the stakeholders and policymakers to make informed decisions aimed at promoting a sustainable society and increasing resilience. The detailed information gathered via a household survey will curate the right path towards mitigation and adaptation strategies in GBM Delta, India. Therefore, the household survey is not only a means of collecting data for this research but also a strategic requirement to recognize the distribution and magnitude of the problems encountered daily by the local population. Identifying the intricate interactions of physical, social, and economic parameters pertaining to the coastal regions of the Sundarbans is essential for a viable sustainable policy which will also help build a resilient community. This meticulous examination is crucial for developing a holistic understanding of the challenges faced by the communities in Sagar Island, Sandeshkhali-I, Gosaba, and Hingalganj. By identifying and analyzing the risks, the Living Delta Research Hub aspires to contribute valuable insights that can inform targeted measures for adaptation, thereby fostering resilience and ensuring the sustainable development of these vulnerable coastal regions within the Sundarbans.

In the year 2022, a comprehensive cross-sectional study was undertaken, employing a robust methodology to gather data from the diverse landscape of the GBM-I delta. This involved the administration of a semi-structured questionnaire to a substantial cohort of over 1200 adult respondents.