When Cyclone Yaas hit the Sundarbans, it left more than just broken houses and flooded fields. It left behind silence, uncertainty, and hunger. Uma Mondal, a 36-year-old widow from Bakkhali village, stood at the edge of her ruined rice field, her only source of income gone. With two young children to feed and no work, Uma thought she would have to leave her home behind and migrate to the city, like many others in her village had done.

This fear is now part of everyday life for many in the Indian Sundarbans. The region, known for its rich biodiversity and mangrove forests, is becoming one of the most climate-vulnerable zones in the country. Rising sea levels, frequent cyclones, and saltwater intrusion destroy farmlands and push people into poverty. Around 70 percent of agricultural land in the Sundarbans is affected by salinity. More than 3.5 million people depend on this ecosystem for farming, fishing, and forest-based livelihoods. With every storm and every flood, more families lose their ability to survive.

As income sources disappear, people migrate to cities in search of work. But most go without training or support. Many fall into unsafe jobs, exploitation, or trafficking. Women, children, and marginalized communities are the most vulnerable. Migration, instead of offering safety, often leads to more harm.

Uma was at that turning point. But her story took a different path when she became part of a community initiative supported by Caritas India. Under the Climate Change Induced Migration and Modern Slavery project, known as CIMMS, Uma joined a women-led group focused on restoring livelihoods using Nature-based Solutions.

For communities like Uma’s, Nature-based Solutions offer more than just conservation. They are locally rooted practices that help restore ecological balance and support traditional ways of life. They help people adapt to climate shocks like floods and droughts. These approaches bring back farming, protect water and soil, and make communities more resilient to displacement. By helping people earn and live off the land again, they reduce the pressure to migrate and the risk of falling into unsafe work.

Caritas India’s CIMMS project sees this link clearly. The project does not just talk about climate change or trafficking, it works directly with people on the ground. It trains farmers in climate-resilient agriculture using local seeds and compost. It supports the revival of water harvesting and soil care through community efforts. It restores green cover and wetlands with local participation. Most importantly, it identifies and supports local leaders who can guide others with simple, practical techniques.

Uma was one of them. Through the project, she received training on growing saline-resistant vegetables like okra, brinjal, and spinach. With seeds, tools, and support, she began reclaiming a small plot of land beside her house. Within a season, her vegetables were ready for market. Her income doubled. She no longer had to consider leaving her village.

“I no longer look for work outside. Nature is giving me what I need, and now I know how to take care of it,” she said with pride.

But Uma’s journey did not stop there. She began helping other women in her village do the same. She shared her experience in Gram Panchayat workshops, becoming an example of how change can begin from within the community. Her story shows that resilience can grow strong even in a region battered by climate change.

The CIMMS Phase II project is now working in 20 villages like Bakkhali. It builds skills, supports local planning, and promotes safe migration. It shows that with trust, knowledge, and the power of nature, people do not need to flee their homes. They can stay, adapt, and thrive.

Uma’s garden is more than a source of food. It is a quiet statement of courage and hope in a land where nature has often been unforgiving. It is proof that when people are given the tools to rebuild, even the most broken land can become fertile ground for a better future.