Bedevilled Barak: How a Katigorah school is building resilience after 2022 Assam floods
Floods in 2022 had destroyed Baleswar Higher Secondary School in Assam’s Cachar district. More than a year later, the school has managed to build back up little by little, with limited government support.
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The school, according to Ali, did not get additional funds to repair damages caused by the flood even though a government official had visited the school for inspection. The school received some assistance from SEEDS, a New Delhi-based non-profit, to help rebuild. Solar panels and roofs were installed and floors repaired. The roof now also has a drain to get rid of excess water.
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SEEDS also organised drills in January 2024 for disaster preparedness at the school, where students were taught how to keep themselves safe. National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Fund and the district administration organised an awareness event in the school after the 2022 flood, Ali added.
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The school, too, has taken steps to increase its resilience. The school management committee, which consists of a president, vice president, Gram Panchayat president, computer expert, teachers and parents, passed a resolution in September 2023 to construct a multi-storeyed building. “The idea behind this decision was to increase flood protection and accommodate more students,” Ali said.
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