Assam has been hit by weeks of torrential monsoon rains, widespread flooding, and deadly landslides, affecting lakhs of children and families this year
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as containment and prevention measures implemented over the last two years, have already resulted in insurmountable losses to children’s education. Floods have now added another complication to the mix in Assam.
Over 1 lakh children are estimated to have been affected by the recent deluge in Southern Assam’s Cachar district. The flood not only washed away houses and property, but also thousands of children’s school supplies.
According to the Cachar administration’s flood bulletin, approximately 13,000 children are residing in relief camps as a consequence of the flood situation, with the highest concentration in the Silchar revenue circle.
“My all books are washed away. This time the flood was devastating. I was also about to join a tutor for my studies but couldn’t for the deluge. There is still knee-deep water in my house,” says Rajesh,an 18 year old boy, who has taken shelter with his family at Silchar GC College.
Floods swept through the district twice in a month, affecting thousands of students like Rajesh. Chandrani Das, who has relocated to the GC College with her younger sister and parents after their home was destroyed by the flood, says she has not visited her home in a while and is unsure whether any of her valuables survived. Chandrani lives in Silchar’s Bisfooti neighbourhood.
Because of heavy rains upstream, the Cachar district has always been vulnerable to recurring floods caused by the Barak. The historical record provides information on massive flooding in 1929, 1966, 1985, 1989, 1991, and 2004.
The government of Assam has decided to provide a one-time financial assistance of one thousand rupees to all children who lost their textbooks in the flood. During a recent visit to flood-ravaged Barak Valley, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made this announcement.
Former Cachar DC Jalli Keerthi said “As per the direction of the CM sir, the affected students will get Rs.1,000 per head up to TDC 3rd year level. We are collecting the information. Those students who do not have bank accounts will be given the amount in the account of their guardian.”
