Mahesh Ramchandani

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As the bus leaves Kolkata and trundles along bumpy roads
dotted on either side with fish-breeding water ponds, small hand-made dams, and
makeshift chai shops, you can sense a large water body ahead. Later, as our
vessel chugs over the vast blue sheet, memories of the din of the ‘city of joy’
are easy to drown as you approach Bali island in the Sundarbans, in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
 
 Unemployment and poverty were driving the youth on the
island to poaching tigers, deer and other animals, and to illegally felling
trees. But over the years, community-based tourism has helped mitigate this –
many young people who might have become poachers have become protectors. Alternative
means of making a living have reduced their dependence on forests. Some locals
have become tour guides, others have made their boats available for tourists,
while some have found employment as hotel staff. Although the salaries are
modest, for some it’s a matter of pride to be associated with the tourism
industry.
 
 Images from a recent visit to the island:

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Ferries, fish, tigers and tourism

படகுகள், மீன்கள், புலிளுக்கு நடுவே சுற்றுலா

সুন্দরবনের বালি দ্বীপে একদিন

ਬੇੜੀਆਂ, ਮੱਛੀਆਂ, ਬਾਘ ਅਤੇ ਸੈਰ-ਸਪਾਟਾ

હોડીઓ, માછલીઓ, વાઘ અને પ્રવાસન

ଫେରିଡଙ୍ଗା, ମାଛ, ବାଘ ଓ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟଟନ

کشتیاں، مچھلی، چیتے اور سیاحت

Bali

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Ferries, fish, tigers and tourism

All in a day's work on Bali island in the Sundarbans, in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district

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