Tina Dolley Is Rebuilding Her Family’s Livelihood After the Flood

Tina Dolley, 27, lives with her family of six in Santak Bor Mising village, Saura Basti, Nazira Development Block, Sivasagar District, Assam. Before the flood, the family managed through a combination of driving, paddy cultivation and livestock.

Tina looked after the household and family responsibilities, while her husband, Narayan Panging, 31, worked as a driver and was the primary income earner. The family grew paddy mainly for their own consumption and kept pigs and poultry that could be sold when they needed additional income. Their household income was approximately ₹7,000–₹8,000 a month.

When the Flood Came

The floodwaters damaged the family’s house and destroyed their kitchen. Cooking utensils, clothes, bedding and stored food were also lost.

The family lost 3 pigs and 15 poultry birds, removing an important source of household assets and supplementary income. The flood also disrupted paddy cultivation for the current season, putting additional pressure on the family’s food security.

Tina Dolley says,

“The floodwaters damaged our house and destroyed our kitchen. Utensils, cattle, goats and chickens were all washed away in the water.”

When Livelihoods Are Disrupted

The flood affected the family's existing sources of livelihood. Narayan had relied on driving to earn for the family, but that work has now stopped.

“My husband used to drive, but now that work has stopped too.”

With livestock lost and paddy cultivation disrupted, the family is now relying more heavily on immediate support while trying to restore their livelihood.

Support That Is Helping Them Cope

The family has received basic provisions and household support from SEEDS and other NGOs, including utensils, rice and lentils.

Tina says:

“We are getting basic provisions and managing day to day.”

She adds:

“Someone gave us utensils, rice and lentils, and with that support, we are somehow getting by.”

This immediate assistance has helped the family meet some of their basic needs. However, the family now needs support to restore the livelihood assets and essential facilities they lost in the flood.

Taking the First Steps Towards Recovery

For Tina's family, recovery means repairing and strengthening their home and kitchen, restoring access to safe water and sanitation and rebuilding the livelihood assets they lost.

Restarting paddy cultivation and replacing pigs and poultry could help restore both food security and an additional source of income. Repairing the kitchen would also help the family regain a safer and more functional living space.

What Recovery Means for Tina’s Family

Over the next three to six months, the family hopes to:

• Repair and strengthen their home and kitchen

• Restart paddy cultivation

• Replace lost pigs and poultry

• Restore safe drinking water and sanitation

• Build greater stability in their household income

For Tina and her family, these steps can help restore the everyday stability they had before the flood and support their recovery over time.

Indicative Recovery Requirement

Based on an initial indicative assessment, Tina’s recovery requirement could be around ₹150,000. Around ₹70,000 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 ₹30,000 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.

Together, Let’s Help Tina Rebuild

The flood disrupted Tina’s family’s home, livelihood and everyday security. Recovery now means restoring the essentials that can help the family rebuild their livelihood and move forward with greater stability.

Your contribution can support Tina and her family as they strengthen their home, restore productive assets and regain access to essential water and sanitation facilities.

DONATE NOW

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