History

Sabuj Sangha was established in 1954 at Nandakumarpur village of Mathurapur II block of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India. Nandakumarpur is located in the Sundarbans which is the world’s largest delta region and home to over four million people. It consists of a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats, saltwater swamps and small islands of mangrove forests and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in the world. However, despite its obvious beauty, the region and its populace are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.
Initially, the main activities of Sabuj Sangha were to organise cultural and sports events, used to generate a sense of community within the area. Over time, the organisation began to grow, spurred on by the passion and enthusiasm of local people seeking to improve living conditions in the Sundarbans.

Sabuj Sangha began working as a development organisation in 1975 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act. It began undertaking a number of rural development projects, to improve quality of life in the region. In 1992, it was registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.

After a decade of experimentation with top down project planning and implementation, the organisation shifted its focus and adopted a sustainable rural development process. This represented a change from project t mode to programme mode, allowing them to adopt a more holistic approach to development using a multi sectored development strategy.

From its humble beginnings in Nandakumarpur, Sabuj Sangha has grown into a vibrant organisation with over 200 staff and a further 100 volunteers. It works with thousands of families each year on a range of issues. It provides healthcare, education, livelihood, sanitation and emergency response to some of the world most vulnerable people.


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