Chitrawati Stayed to Protect Her Home After the Assam Floods

Before the floods, Chitrawati Pegu Doley, 34, balanced her responsibilities at home with farming. As a homemaker and farmer, she grew crops, tended to the family’s livestock and cultivated vegetables to support her household. Their four-bigha paddy field was an important part of their livelihood, while a pig and three chickens provided additional household assets. Like many farming families, they depended on their land and the work they put into it to meet everyday needs.

When the floods arrived in July 2026, the family’s four-bigha paddy field was damaged, putting their agricultural livelihood at risk. They also lost a pig and three chickens, reducing the resources they could depend on as they tried to recover.

Amid the flooding, Chitrawati made a difficult decision. While others left the area, she stayed behind alone to protect her home.

Her decision reflects how much the family’s home means to them.

The floodwater has receded from the family’s home, but it remains in the paddy fields. With cultivation affected, Chitrawati and her family have turned to daily-wage labour to earn what they can. This provides some income, but their agricultural livelihood has yet to recover.

The loss of livestock and damage to their crops have made it harder to rebuild their household resources. Restoring the paddy field and growing vegetables again will require seeds and financial support, while replacing livestock will take additional investment.

The family also faces ongoing concerns about safe shelter during floods and access to clean drinking water. They lack a higher, safer place to stay when floodwaters rise, leaving them exposed to the same difficulties when flooding returns.

As Chitrawati explains:

“Floods happen every year, floods destroy house and garden crops. I don't get a job to earn a living and they have no high place to rest in the time of flood and lack of clean drinking water.”

Chitrawati and her family are continuing to earn through daily-wage work while hoping to restore their farming activities. Over the next three to six months, she hopes to begin duck farming, creating another source of livelihood alongside cultivation. She also needs support to restore her kitchen garden and replace the livestock the family lost.

These plans offer a practical way forward, but rebuilding will require resources the household cannot easily arrange on its own. They require financial support, livestock and repairs to the home, better access to clean drinking water and a safer place to shelter.

Your support can help Chitrawati’s family rebuild its livelihood and work towards a safer future.

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Indicative Recovery Requirement

Based on the initial assessment, the family’s recovery needs include repairing their home (₹35,000), restoring crops (₹15,000) and livelihood activities (₹20,000), and improving access to clean drinking water (40,000). The total indicative recovery requirement is ₹1,10,000.