Silchar: After the devastating 2022 floods, the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) reached out to the flood affected communities in Cachar district of South Assam through its Project Ashraya India Flood Relief.
In consultation with the Cachar district administration, SEEDS reached out to the flood affected communities to rebuild a community resilient to face natural disasters, and especially floods.
The SEEDS is a not-for-profit organisation that enables community resilience through practical solutions in the areas of disaster readiness, response and rehabilitation.
When torrential rains unleashed unprecedented devastation in the Barak Valley, SEEDS responded with compassion, a statement issued by the NGO, said.
The floodwaters breached the Bethukandi embankment, and submerged huge areas in the Cachar district. And at the critical juncture, SEEDS stepped in to ease the sufferings of the people and restore a sense of normalcy.
Manu Gupta, director of SEEDS said the entire northeast India is prone to natural disasters, and has been affecting lives and livelihoods of the people.
“The SEEDS team has a decade long presence in Assam and has strategically worked during the last two years to restore schools and primary health centres devastated in floods,” Gupta said.
Shamim Laskar, programme officer of the Cachar District Disaster Management Authority said they could air-drop flood packets to the flood-affected people. “But, people did not have drinking water and it was a major concern for us.”
Laskar said the district administration managed to rescue people and get them food, but there was an outcry for drinking water, since all drinking water sources were submerged.
To address the issue of scarcity of drinking water during floods, SEEDS, during the last two years, constructed 10 Terra filters in different villages in Cachar district.
The Terra filters are designed and built in such a way that they remain above flood waters and can provide clean and safe drinking water to more than 1,500 families.
The Terra Filter is DRDO patented and can provide 1000 liters of potable water during an emergency.
Additionally, 200 ASHA workers from Jalalpur and Kalain Primary Health Centres have undergone a specialised WASH training, embodying a community-centric approach.
The SEEDS conducted awareness campaigns emphasising the significance of safe drinking water, especially in areas with high iron content.
The NGO also supported the recovery of education by repairing, restoring and upgrading infrastructure at four school buildings that were impacted by the flood.
These schools have also been provided with solar lighting, they also serve as relief shelters for villagers in the future.
Building community and collective resilience in collaboration with local leaders, SEEDS formed Disaster Risk Reduction task forces, conducted mock drills in schools.
