Bamboo Supports Hold Up the Walls: Anita Bhengra’s Family Needs a Safer Home

Before the floods, Anita Bhengra and her family relied on daily wage work to meet their household needs. Anita worked in a tea garden, while her husband, Dharam Das Bhengra, lived and worked in Bengaluru as a wage labourer. Together, their reported income of approximately ₹9,000–10,000 supported the family. They also kept poultry and a goat, which provided an additional source of household support.

Their lives centred on work and their children’s future. Their daughter, Rashmi, was studying in Class X, while their son, Suleman, had left school. Despite limited resources, the family worked to manage everyday expenses and maintain their home.

The floods damaged the family’s bamboo house and washed away their poultry and goat. They also lost essential belongings, including beds, furniture, cooking utensils, clothes, bedding, food stocks, electrical appliances, school materials and other household necessities.

The loss of livestock removed an additional source of support, leaving the family more dependent on wage employment. The damage to their home also created an immediate concern about the safety of the place where they lived.

Anita and her family continue to live in their damaged bamboo house. Parts of the structure are in poor condition, and bamboo poles have been placed against the walls to help keep them standing. These supports offer a temporary measure, but the house still needs proper repairs and strengthening.

With her husband working away from home in Bengaluru, Anita is managing the household while trying to address these challenges. Although his employment provides some financial support, the family’s recovery remains incomplete, and the loss of livestock has reduced its ability to meet unexpected expenses.

Relief assistance from SEEDS and other organisations, including food, household items, hygiene kits and utensil kits, has helped the family meet some immediate needs. However, this support cannot resolve the structural damage that continues to affect their home.

Anita says,

“Our bamboo house is in very bad shape. Bamboo support is given to protect the walls otherwise it will fall down. We need to strengthen the house. Moreover, husband is away from home.”

Anita continues to manage her household while her husband works away from the village. The bamboo supports placed against the walls are a temporary measure to help keep the structure standing, but lasting repairs are needed to make the home safer.

Strengthening the house would give the family greater security and help Anita manage daily life with fewer concerns about the condition of their shelter. Improving sanitation, replacing essential household belongings and restoring their livestock would also help the family rebuild its resources and reduce its dependence on wage income alone.

Together, Let’s Help Anita Rebuild.

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Your contribution will support SEEDS’ flood response and recovery efforts for affected families based on assessed needs.

Indicative Recovery Requirement

Based on an initial indicative assessment Anita's recovery requirement could be around ₹2,10,000. Around ₹1,20,000 is indicated for rebuilding a permanent house, durable rebuild. A further ₹30,000 is indicated for replacing the domestic animals lost, based on a typical small mixed holding for the area, to be confirmed through field verification. ₹20,000 is set aside for household utensils and essential items, and ₹40,000 for continued sanitation and drinking water support during the recovery period.

Note: Recovery requirements and costs are indicative and subject to field and technical verification. Support will be prioritised according to assessed household needs.