New Delhi — June 5, 2026 — Across India’s 7,500 km coastline, women are emerging as powerful leaders in the fight against climate change. From restoring mangroves in Maharashtra to transforming paddy farming in Odisha and pioneering seaweed cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, their stories highlight how local innovation is driving resilience in vulnerable coastal communities.
Through the Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC) initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with support from UNDP India and the Green Climate Fund, women are being empowered to restore ecosystems and build sustainable livelihoods.
In Odisha, farmer Swarnalata Jena adopted the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), producing higher yields with less water and fewer inputs. Her harvest nearly doubled, turning subsistence farming into a reliable source of income. More than 28,000 farmers across Odisha’s coastal districts are now embracing similar climate-resilient practices.
In Maharashtra, community leader Manisha Gharat heads Gavhan’s Mangrove Co-management Committee (MCMC), mobilizing residents to conserve mangroves while creating new livelihoods such as crab farming. Across four districts, 131 committees have been formed, supporting over 550 livelihood units, with women making up the majority of participants.
In Andhra Pradesh, fisherwoman Ramalakshmi transformed her life by cultivating seaweed. Starting with 10 rafts, her enterprise quickly scaled to 50, supported by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and technical expertise from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Her initiative has grown into a community-led enterprise exploring market linkages and branding.
These stories illustrate how women, when supported with training, resources, and community-driven governance, are becoming central to India’s climate resilience. By combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques, they are not only protecting ecosystems but also creating sustainable livelihoods for future generations.
