Socio Economic Changes in Sagar Island before and After Cyclone Aila

Cyclone Aila, which struck the coastal belt of West Bengal on 25 May 2009, was one of the most devastating disasters in the history of Sundarbans. Among the worst affected regions was Sagar Island, a densely populated part of the delta. The cyclone not only caused massive physical destruction but also reshaped the socio economic fabric of the island. Before Aila, the economy of Sagar was largely dependent on agriculture, fishing, shrimp farming, and forest resources, while society maintained a rural, resource dependent lifestyle marked by kinship ties and limited infrastructure. After Aila, Stalinization of agricultural land, collapse of fisheries, widespread migration, emergence of alternative livelihoods, and social disruptions created a new reality for the islanders. Using government reports, published academic/NGO work, and field testimonies, this article analyses in detail the socio economic conditions before the cyclone, the devastation caused by Aila, and the long-term transformations that followed. The study concludes that while the disaster intensified vulnerabilities, it also generated resilience, diversification of livelihoods, and policy attention, thereby reshaping Sagar Island’s socio economic trajectory.