ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Dormant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities and Political Participation of Fisherwomen in West Bengal

In this study, socio-economic vulnerabilities, ecological problems and political engagement of fisherwomen in the coastal districts of Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas of West Bengal, India are rigorously analyzed. Fisherwomen’s contributions are systematically devalued and structurally marginalized despite their ubiquity in the fisheries value chain. This study combines empirical demographic data, livelihood constraints, and grassroots political indicators to understand why global sustainability metrics including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 5, 8, 13, and 14 remain persistently dormant for these communities. The findings reveal a context of intersectional marginalization, compounded by exploitative informal Dadon debt system, significant lack of post-harvest infrastructure and forceful privatization of coastal commons through corporate aquaculture. Further, rigid forest governance structures, especially non-implementation of Forest Rights Act and the outdated Boat License Certificate (BLC) system in Sundarbans, continue to sustain severe human insecurities, especially for ‘tiger widows’. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment gave progressive quotas for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Yet empirical evidence points to a conundrum in participatory governance. 35% of the elected female delegates have strong administrative independence, but a large proportion of them still are trapped in proxy leadership under patriarchal norms. The study urges a transition from a capital-centric Blue Economy to a Blue Justice paradigm to revive these dormant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Policy mandates demand urgent attention to hyper-local financial inclusion, democratizing post-harvest infrastructure, robust ecological zoning and substantial political capacity-building to translate descriptive representation into authentic socio-ecological empowerment.