Sustainable Social Development Programmes
In the southernmost riverine settlements of Lower Hingalganj, life is lived under a fragile sky. People here inhabit a land shaped by water — where every high tide threatens the embankment, and each cyclone carries the risk of permanent displacement.
These are borderland communities, hemmed in by rising seas, salinity, and poverty — yet they carry deep resilience, cultural pride, and ancestral memory.
Breathing Roots was born in these villages — not as a service provider, but as a collective of neighbours, responding to urgent needs and building long-term sustainability. Relief is not enough. Our work combines climate adaptation, skill building, and cultural solidarity to empower communities in a changing delta.
Core Activities (2020–2024)
Skill Training for Livelihoods
Hands-on workshops for women and youth in:
- Jute craft & upcycled products
- Rakhi-making & seasonal crafts
- Tailoring, embroidery, and home-based enterprise
- Artisan capacity-building and market linkage
Arts & Common Facility Centre
A 400 sq. ft. community space, built on 7 katha of land in Kalitala, serves as:
- A skill-training centre
- A venue for cultural workshops and meetings
- A common facility for rural production and collaboration
Emergency & Health Support
Emergency Relief Work
After Cyclone Amphan and during the COVID-19 lockdown, Breathing Roots provided:
- Clean water, tarpaulins, food supplies
- Emergency support to over 6,000 families
- Culturally sensitive distribution through local networks
Health & Veterinary Outreach
Regular medical and livestock health camps in remote riverine areas address:
- Lack of formal healthcare access
- Post-cyclone waterborne disease outbreaks
- Livelihood loss due to cattle illness
Cultural Solidarity & Artist Support
In fragile landscapes, culture heals and unites. We provide ongoing support to folk artists through workshops, performances, and participation in the Bon Bibi & Dakshin Ray Festival.
- Recognition for rural storytellers and musicians
- Spaces for intergenerational knowledge sharing
- Integration of folk narratives into environmental awareness and community organising
Even under the looming threat of cyclones, floods, and displacement, communities of the Sundarbans carry songs, skills, and stories. Breathing Roots is here to strengthen them — one mangrove, one melody, one livelihood at a time.