For the last ten years,  Dr. Madhumita Banik and Mr. Nilendra Sarkar , have been supporting a small NGO, Baikunthapur Tarun Sangha, of Sunderbans. Many of you have also become a part of this journey now through our outlet "Joibojo" - (https://www.facebook.com/groups/Joibojo/).

At Joibojo  we try to support the farmers by procuring their produces directly and sending them back the profits that are trickling in, thanks to all of you.

My dear patrons, we are immensely sad to let you know that our beloved Baikunthapur and its surrounding villages have been severely ravaged by Amphan. The pictures that are trickling in are heart wrenching. The mud houses have collapsed. Others have lost their asbestos roofs.  The dams are broken. Saline water has invaded the adjoining villages of Debipur, Nagenabad, Bhubeneswari  and Deulbari.

Baikunthapur  Tarun Sangha was formed in the aftermath of the devastating floods that hit the Kultali  island in 1982, by a group of young people under the able leadership of Mr. Susanto Giri. They have worked tirelessly with a mission to provide equal opportunities to the rural underprivileged in areas of education, health and livelihood options, striving for self-reliance in an inclusive and participatory approach. It built a hospital, where till date more than 900 children have been delivered, and today is providing shelter to many of the people.

We appeal to all of you to come forward and join hands with the people of Baikunthapur now. Let them know you are there for them in this extreme catastrophic situation. It's not an easy task to wipe off that vacant look from their eyes and light a ray of hope in them. But if all of us try together, maybe we can restore something back to them and save a few from dying due to starvation.

Now, more than ever before, the farmers there need us. Please send your donations to save the lives of the people who have touched your lives lovingly till a few days back.

Together, we can certainly make a difference.