The Socio-Cultural and Economic Role of Ponds in Delta Communities: Insights from Gosaba Block of the Indian Sundarbans Delta

Sumana Banerjee & Katharine Vincent

Published in ‘Pond Ecosystems of the Indian Sundarbans - An Overview’

Abstract

Ponds are intrinsic to deltaic life as they are important for both household-level activities and supporting livelihoods. Based on field observations from areas of the Gosaba Community Development Block (Indian Sundarbans), this chapter presents descriptions of the different kinds of ponds. These descriptions illustrate the form of these different kinds of ponds. Following this descriptive section, the chapter uses qualitative data to document the varied uses of these ponds by different people, applying a gender lens and emphasising their socio-cultural and economic importance. It also explores changes over time, showing how the form and uses are embedded within wider social and economic change, and what might be expected in the future.