Sabina Bibi with her daughter Najima (left) and Son Sajid (right) . 21 year old Sabina Bibi lives in Gobindopurabab village on Brajaballabhpur island in Sunderbans, India. She has been married to 23 year old Nojrul Halder for eight years. The muslim couple have two children- daughter Najima Khatun (age 5) and son Sajid Halder (age 3). Sabina's home is about 15 minutes away from the brick road from which they can hail a motor-van. One has to walk through ankle deep mud to get to the brick road. From there it is about 45 minutes to the nearest jetty. However left at the mercy of the tides, the villagers have no guarantee of a boat once they reach the jetty. If all goes well, after crossing the river it is another 45 minutes to the nearest primary health centre. Sabina's third child was a boy who was born with a breathing problem. The morning after his birth they spent Rs 300 ($6) to hire a van to take the baby to a doctor in the market. After four days and twenty injections later, the market doctor referred the baby to a doctor in Kakdeep. The baby died on fourth day in Kakdeep. The family spent Rs 2500 ($50) on transport, medicine and doctor's fee. Sabina says "Since transport takes so much money, we moved the baby on fourth day. If we had taken him to the doctor in Kakdeep two days before perhaps he would be alive." "If there was a medical boat we would take the baby for our own interest. We would try to save him" Sabina adds.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:24:10 +0000

Sabina Bibi with her daughter Najima (left) and Son Sajid (right) . 21 year old Sabina Bibi lives in Gobindopurabab village on Brajaballabhpur island in Sunderbans, India. She has been married to 23 year old Nojrul Halder for eight years. The muslim couple have two children- daughter Najima Khatun (age 5) and son Sajid Halder (age 3). Sabina's home is about 15 minutes away from the brick road from which they can hail a motor-van. One has to walk through ankle deep mud to get to the brick road. From there it is about 45 minutes to the nearest jetty. However left at the mercy of the tides, the villagers have no guarantee of a boat once they reach the jetty. If all goes well, after crossing the river it is another 45 minutes to the nearest primary health centre. Sabina's third child was a boy who was born with a breathing problem. The morning after his birth they spent Rs 300 ($6) to hire a van to take the baby to a doctor in the market. After four days and twenty injections later, the market doctor referred the baby to a doctor in Kakdeep. The baby died on fourth day in Kakdeep. The family spent Rs 2500 ($50) on transport, medicine and doctor's fee. Sabina says "Since transport takes so much money, we moved the baby on fourth day. If we had taken him to the doctor in Kakdeep two days before perhaps he would be alive." "If there was a medical boat we would take the baby for our own interest. We would try to save him" Sabina adds.
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Mime artists Apu Maiti and Swarup Naskar stretch behind the curtain just before a show. Mime requires its performers to be flexible and agile.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:24:11 +0000

Mime artists Apu Maiti and Swarup Naskar stretch behind the curtain just before a show. Mime requires its performers to be flexible and agile.
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Three friends hang out at the banks of river Hoogly to beat the summer heat as light from adjacent street reflects on water providing a dazzling backdrop.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:24:11 +0000

Three friends hang out at the banks of river Hoogly to beat the summer heat as light from adjacent street reflects on water providing a dazzling backdrop.
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