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Tiger widows turn to clay art in Sunderbans

Models to be launched formally at Pakhiralay, a popular tourist destination in the mangrove delta

Subhasish Chaudhuri Kolkata Published 02.09.22, 06:43 AM
A model of a crocodile.

A model of a crocodile. Picture courtesy: Raj Sekhar Aich

A group of Sunderbans women who lost their husbands to tiger and crocodile attacks have turned to the predators for a self-sustaining livelihood.

Pramila Gayen, Bina Mondal, Karuna Mondal and seven other women from Gosaba are making terracotta models of tigers and crocodiles, which they want to sell to tourists.

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On September 4, the models will be launched formally at Pakhiralay, a popular tourist destination in the mangrove delta.

The women have hired a stall at the Pakhiralay market to display and sell their works.

The Gosaba-based Sunderbans Tiger Widow Welfare Society is supporting the endeavour, which has been conceptualised by marine social scientist Raj Sekhar Aich, a professor at Sister Nivedita University.

Ashim Gayen, of the Sunderbans Tiger Widow Welfare Society, said: “This is the first time we have taken up a project that can help ‘tiger widows’ earn a living in a sustainable way. We are grateful to Raj Sekhar sir.”

Aich came in touch with the Sunderbans Tiger Widow Welfare Society a few months ago.

“The plight of these women led us to seek a solution,” he said.

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