Ganga’s declining fish stocks and the changing livelihoods of Bhagalpur’s fisherwomen

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight fall on the Ganga in Bhagalpur, Bihar, fisherwomen begin their day. Some head out to catch fish, while others clean the catch or prepare it for sale in local markets. Their daily routines, like those of their families, are closely connected to the river.

For generations, fishing communities along the Ganga have depended on the river for food and income. However, residents in Bhagalpur report that fish catches have declined over the years. At the same time, access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare remains a concern in several settlements.

These conditions shape the everyday experiences of women, who contribute to fishing and fish sales while managing household responsibilities. As men migrate in search of work, women often take on a larger share of the responsibility for their families and livelihoods.

Health concerns among fisherwomen

In settlements such as Raghavpur Bin Toli, fishing has been a traditional occupation for generations. Ratna Kumari, a resident whose name has been changed to protect her health information, says around 150 to 200 people from her community live in the settlement. With many men leaving for employment, women manage much of the household and fishing-related work.

"There used to be more fish in the Ganga, but now there are fewer. Men have to go out to work. Women have to spend their entire days in contaminated water, dirt, and polluted environments. This is leading to many diseases that we can't openly discuss," she says.

Ratna married at the age of 15. She says she began experiencing health problems soon after marriage, including persistent vaginal discharge, commonly referred to as leucorrhoea. She also experienced weakness and body aches but could not access regular treatment.

"I only studied till matriculation. After that, I had to go to the city for further studies, so I couldn't study further. I got married soon after leaving school. I had a problem with white discharge from a young age. I had white discharge from the beginning. I felt weak in my body. I used to do farming and also worked as a labourer, but I was never able to get proper treatment," she says.

Her condition continued for several years. When the pain became difficult to manage, she underwent surgery to remove her uterus. "For many years, white discharge continued. (The disease of white discharge from the vagina is called leucorrhoea). I had body aches. I actually had a problem with my uterus. When the pain became unbearable, I was forced to undergo surgery to remove my uterus," she explains.

Ratna says the operation provided some relief, but she continues to experience joint and back pain, numbness, headaches and dizziness. She is also taking homoeopathic medicines. Her 15 year old daughter has also reported vaginal discharge, abdominal pain and a burning sensation.

"My daughter also has white discharge. Most women here have this problem. She also has abdominal pain and burning. If she gets it checked in time, she might be able to survive," Ratna says. Other women in the settlement describe similar experiences. Rama Saini, whose name has also been changed, says the cost of treatment can make it difficult for women to seek medical help.

"Leucorrhoea is a serious problem here. I've been suffering from it for five or six years. I'll only get treatment if I have the money. Here, we women don't have the money, so we can't afford treatment. If the problem becomes severe, doctors recommend surgery. We're afraid we might develop uterine cancer," she says.

Rama also points to early marriage and limited educational opportunities among girls in the settlement. She says many girls marry at 14 or 15, often without being able to continue their education. "When they don't have money, where should women go to earn money? What should they do?" she asks.

Hysterectomies among younger women

Several women in Raghavpur and nearby settlements report having undergone hysterectomies. Sushma Devi, 40, says she had her uterus removed a year ago after being diagnosed with a uterine problem. The operation cost around Rs 1 lakh, which she financed through a loan.

"When a problem was found in the uterus, the doctor suggested surgery. It's been almost a year now. I feel very weak. I have joint and back pain. I used to have a lot of leucorrhoea. The doctor said the uterus had enlarged. I had been having white discharge for many years," she says.

Sushma says she had tried medication and homoeopathic treatment before the operation. Her 15-year-old daughter also experiences similar symptoms.

Soni Kumari, who works with the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), focuses on the health of women in fishing communities. She says girls as young as 13 or 14 experience leucorrhoea in the area, while some women undergo hysterectomies by the age of 30 or 35.

"In this area, girls as young as 13-14 years old start suffering from leucorrhoea. Many women have their uteruses removed by the age of 30-35. They first take medications, but when they don't get relief, they have their uterus removed. They also fear developing cancer," she says.

According to Soni, the concern is reported across the seven settlements where her organisation works. She says some settlements have three or four women who have undergone hysterectomies, while many others report similar symptoms.

What do doctors and health workers say?

Dr Raju Kumar, Medical Officer in Charge of Sadar Hospital, Bhagalpur, identifies sanitation and health awareness as important factors affecting the health of communities living along the river.

"People living along the river banks are unable to maintain hygiene. They lack information about government schemes and what they can do to improve their health. The government supplies many things, such as sanitary pads. ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been given the responsibility of creating awareness among women and adolescent girls," he says.

He acknowledges that leucorrhoea is a concern in the area and stresses the importance of timely treatment. He explains that pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which causes inflammation in the reproductive organs, can lead to complications. Although hysterectomy may be considered in some cases, he says it should not be undertaken at a young age.

Asha Kumari, a local ASHA worker, says efforts are being made to connect residents with healthcare services through schemes such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the ABHA Card. However, awareness and access to these services remain limited.

The study examines water quality and health in Bihar’s fishing settlements

The experiences of women in Bhagalpur were also examined as part of a wider study conducted under the Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Riverine Ecosystems and Livelihoods Programme (REAL). The study looked at the health and livelihoods of fishing communities in the Gangetic plains of Bihar, including settlements in Bhagalpur and West Champaran.

Saryu Sharma, a student of MSc Conservation Practice at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, conducted the research with the REAL team. The study aimed to understand the environmental and social health concerns of fisherwomen and assess access to healthcare services for women and their families.

Researchers interviewed 77 women between the ages of 15 and 68 across nine villages. They also conducted group discussions with women and interviews with ASHA workers, doctors and government officials. Drinking water quality was monitored as part of the study.

The findings showed that drinking water samples contained arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrates and E. coli at levels exceeding prescribed limits. In Bhagalpur, where some households receive piped water, women reported irregular water supply and inadequate sanitation. In the Bagaha area of West Champaran, most families continued to depend on tube wells. The study also found that arrangements for wastewater and solid waste disposal were inadequate.

Health problems reported in Bagaha included typhoid, diarrhoea and PID. Around 30 per cent of the women in the study were found to have PID.

Of the 37 women considered in the study's findings on hysterectomy, 11 reported having undergone the surgery due to PID. Researchers also found that women often preferred surgery to medication, with persistent pain emerging as a major reason. The findings raise questions about whether women have adequate information about available treatment options and the decisions involved.

Other reported health problems included kidney stones, gallstones, leucorrhoea, gas, seasonal allergies and arthritis. Arthritis was particularly common among older women.

A government doctor in Padrauna also reported a high incidence of health problems among fisherwomen and identified malnutrition as a major concern. Another doctor cited high iron levels in water, nutritional deficiencies and husbands having multiple sexual partners as possible factors associated with PID. Doctors generally recommend medication before surgery.

Access to water and sanitation

The study also draws attention to the water and sanitation facilities available in fishing settlements. Many households lack reliable water supplies, toilets, or drainage facilities.

"There's no water supply," says Rama. "There are no government toilets. We have to go to the Ganga to bathe, wash clothes, and wash utensils. There are no drains. There's no drainage system."

Without toilets at home, residents have to use shared spaces. Women and girls also face difficulties meeting their menstrual hygiene needs. The study found that many could not afford sanitary pads and used cloth during menstruation, which can increase the risk of infection.

These conditions are part of the wider challenges women face in managing their health. Household responsibilities, financial constraints and limited access to healthcare can make it difficult for them to seek timely treatment.

Declining fish catches affect household incomes

The health and living conditions of fisherwomen are closely connected to the livelihoods of their families. Residents say that fish catches in the Ganga have declined over the past 15 years, affecting household incomes.

Sohan Saini, a fisherman, says fishing has been passed down through generations, but declining catches have made it difficult to sustain families.

"Fishing is a hereditary profession. Fish catches have been declining gradually over the past 15 years. Sometimes, we catch four or five quintals of fish, which lasts a month. Larger fish are caught here. When there's no work here, we go to Delhi, Mumbai, or Gujarat," he says.

He adds that fish prices range between Rs 300 and Rs 350, but availability continues to fall. Subhash Kumar Mahato also describes the difficulty of earning a regular income from fishing.

"We are fishermen. This is how we support our children. We stayed there for two or three days. Sometimes we catch fish, sometimes we don't. Every four or five days we earn a thousand or fifteen hundred rupees. We can't educate our children," he says.

For Sona Devi, the connection between fish availability and food security is direct: "If there is fish, we will eat it; if there is not, we will remain hungry." Women also contribute to household incomes by helping with fishing or buying fish from other settlements and selling it in distant markets.

Rama Saini, from Jahangira village in Sultanganj block, says she buys fish for a group of women who take it to Malda for sale. The journey can last more than a day. "If we leave today at 3 p.m., we'll be back tomorrow at 11 a.m. We'll take food with us. We'll sleep there at night. We have to work hard to earn money," she says.

Her household depends largely on the river for its income. With her husband unwell and two sons working outside the village, she also has to support her children's education. However, she says the earnings are enough only to meet daily expenses. The settlement itself lacks a reliable water supply, and residents use Ganga water for bathing, washing clothes and cleaning utensils.

Changes in the river and fishing practices

For fishing communities, changes in the Ganga affect both their livelihoods and traditional practices. Ravindra Kumar, a fisherman of Barari, says fishing has been passed down through generations, but the river and fishing methods have changed.

"We've been fishing for centuries. The elders knew a lot about fishing techniques. But now both the river and the fishing methods are changing," he says.

He points to the Farakka Barrage, fishing nets and changing river conditions as factors that have affected the community. He also says that some nets trap smaller fish, which can affect future fish populations. According to him, the number of boats near Barari has fallen over the past 15 years, with only eight or nine remaining.

Residents of Jahangira also describe the difficulties caused by declining fish availability, particularly during winter. Some fishermen migrate to Delhi and Punjab in search of work during periods when fish are scarce. Limited household incomes also affect children's education.

Arun Saini of Jahangira says there are around 60 fishermen's households in the area. He identifies education as a major concern for families who cannot afford private schooling.

"All the children of the boatmen study in government schools. We cannot afford to send our children to private schools. The lives of those living near the Ganga will never improve. If our children are unable to study and do something, their lives will become very difficult," he says.

Looking at river health, livelihoods and women's health together

The experiences of fishing communities in the Gangetic plains show how changes in river conditions, fish availability and access to basic services are connected to people's everyday lives. Residents have raised concerns about pollution, sand mining, changes in water flow due to dams, riverbank development and fishing practices. These factors also influence the aquatic ecosystems on which fishing communities depend.

When fish catches decline, household incomes are affected. Migration for work changes how families share their responsibilities, while women continue to contribute to fishing, fish sales and household care. Limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare also shapes their health and living conditions.

The findings of the WCT study bring together these different aspects of life in fishing settlements. They highlight the importance of considering water quality, sanitation, nutrition, women's education, healthcare access, social security and livelihoods when examining the well-being of these communities.

For fisherwomen in Bhagalpur, the Ganga remains central to their work, food, culture and identity. Their experiences also show that the health of the river and the well-being of the communities living along it are closely connected. Understanding these links is important to understanding the changes taking place in the lives of people who have depended on the river for generations.