Panitar a village in Basirhat on the Ichhamati River

Basirhat  is a city and a municipality in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. It is located on the banks of the Ichamati (Ichhamati) River. Basirhat has a long history of farmer’s movements like the Tebhaga movement. It is on the border of Bangladesh.

It is a part of the Sunderbans and agriculture is dependent on deep tubewells. Pisciculture is a prominent occupation because of the larger water bodies present all around. Illiteracy here is 88% maybe because of repressive cultural norms.

Taki a largish town was the place where rich Bengali Zamindars had made their grand homes, now in ruins. Dhanyakuria a short distance away has magnificent castles of yore and this region has a potential for tourism.

Panitar is traditionally a village of weavers. The poverty in this village is unimaginable with only a few youngsters possessing phones. They are steeped in backwardness. Majority of them are Muslims they are reluctant to go to a Health Centre. Women are generally always accompanied by men. Asking them to send pictures of their products can be a challenge. The post office is quite far off. An hour away from Kolkata by train, it is easier for them to come and deliver their products in person.

Alma Di is the elder in this community and the others around her are under her wing. We gave them food staples and sadly they were reluctant to take medical kits unsure of whether it would be put to use. Honest to the core they accepted this bounty grudgingly. We need work is the general refrain.

The ray of hope is weaving which is usually the domain of men is done by women. Empowerment! The men work in brick kilns and in the absence of water bodies they are into poultry farming.

In their dismal lives there is colour in the beautiful vibrant Gamchhas they weave. With interventions they have diversified into weaving sarees and stoles using the count for Gamchhas and incorporating the smart geometric designs. It’s a comfortable loose cotton weave ideal for the Indian Summer. They sell in fairs, on trains to travelers and if we can provide them with a ready market it can only be a win win situation for everyone.