Volume-XII, Special Issue, April 2026 |
ইকোটুরিজম, সুস্থায়ী উন্নয়ন ও নারী ক্ষমতায়ন: প্রসঙ্গ সুন্দরবন, ভারত সব্যসাচী পৈলান, গবেষক, মানবীবিদ্যা চর্চাকেন্দ্র, যাদবপুর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়,কলকাতা, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 05.04.2026 | Accepted: 07.04.2026 | Published Online: 10.04.2026 | Page No: 53-61 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.specialW.268 | |||||||
Ecotourism, Sustainable Development and Women Empowerment: Context of the Sundarbans, India Sabyasachi Pailan, Research Scholar, Centre for Humanities Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is a region of significant biodiversity that plays a pivotal role in both environmental conservation and local livelihoods. In recent times, the region has witnessed a rapid expansion of eco-tourism and community-based tourism, which has not only bolstered the local economy but also generated opportunities for alternative livelihoods. However, women's participation in this tourism sector remains limited, and gender-based disparities are clearly evident. The primary objective of this study is to analyse the roles, contributions, challenges, and potential of women within the Sundarbans' (India) eco-tourism sector, and to understand how these factors intersect with sustainable development and women empowerment. The research was conducted using an exploratory and descriptive methodology, employing interviews, observations, and a review of existing literature to collect data. The findings indicate that while eco-tourism has created new economic opportunities for women; various obstacles—including social barriers, infrastructural limitations, safety concerns, a lack of skills, and limited institutional engagement—continue to hinder their full participation. Concurrently, the study reveals that women's involvement in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), homestay management, handicraft production, and environmental conservation initiatives is effectively boosting their self-confidence, social status, and financial independence. This research underscores that by ensuring the active participation of women, they can emerge not merely as beneficiaries, but as key driving forces behind sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. | ||
Keywords: The Sundarbans (India), eco-tourism, local livelihood, women empowerment, sustainable development, |