Tukergram, a small hamlet situated on a hillock in Gram Panchayat (GP) Tarinipur, Katigora block of Cachar district, Assam, has only 32 households and a population of 152. The word Tuker means “island” in the local dialect. Nestled beside a picturesque lake once part of the meandering Barak River, this hillock turns into an island for four to five months during the floods—sometimes even longer, until the Barak River’s water level recedes. During this period, families living in low-lying areas migrate to the highest part of the hamlet, enduring months in congested and unhygienic conditions.
Cachar district in southern Assam is a low-lying region of the Barak Valley, where several rivers from Manipur and Mizoram flow into the Barak River. Even when it remains dry in Cachar, heavy rainfall in these states leads to floods in the district. According to locals, rainfall and floods have become increasingly erratic and intense, prolonging the monsoon season and worsening its impact.
A Hamlet Without Basic Services
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED)identified Tukergram as one of the worst flood-affected areas, lacking even a government-provided water pipeline. The sanctioned pipeline through Kalinagar GP must pass through a drain, making execution difficult. The hamlet also lacks road connectivity, electricity, and proper sanitation facilities. Families here rely on the lake for daily water needs, but during floods, the overflowing lake becomes contaminated.
During these months, residents collect rainwater using pipes mounted on rooftops and purify it with phitkiri (alum). However, excessive alum consumption can cause health issues.
“If you give me clean water, I will use it. Else, I have to manage with water from the nala (drainage canal),” said Abdul Jabbar, 58, a resident of Tukergram.
With no alternative livelihood options, people remain stranded during the floods. Only those engaged in fishing, leased to a few government-approved contractors, earn some income. Agriculture is possible only for one season, forcing many—especially young men—to migrate for work, sometimes as far as the Konkan coast.
UNICEF and Partners Intervene
To address the water crisis, UNICEF, in collaboration with Deshbandhu Club (NGO), DDMA, PHED, and the Community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC)—a nodal government body under DDMA and the Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) department—worked with the community to test the lake water for contamination.
They provided an emergency mobile water treatment unit, which purifies lake water by pumping, filtering, and disinfecting. The unit is easy to install and operate. Five men and five women have been trained to maintain it, and even children have learned how to use it.
“The difference in water quality before and after the unit is as clear as silver and gold. The water is now as clean as rainwater. We have never had clean water to drink, so getting this unit feels like receiving the universe,” said Abdul Jabbar, now a member of Tukergram’s sub-water committee.
Community Ownership and Sustainability
A sub-water committee was formed along the lines of the Jal Jeevan Mission’s water user committees, with 14 members, including six women. The committee manages the unit’s daily operations, schedules water collection, arranges fuel, and ensures maintenance. Each household contributes ₹20 per week (USD 0.23) or ₹92 per month (USD 1.10) for water access. Plans are underway to link the committee with a bank for fund management.
“There used to be worms in the water, causing stomach ailments, skin infections, and other health issues, especially in children. Now, with clean drinking water, these problems have been reduced,” said Sajida Begum Talukdar, 28, a trained unit operator.
Since there are no water pipelines, the mobile water treatment unit has provided safe drinking water to Tukergram for the first time. The committee now aims to install a Sintex water tank using collected funds, allowing water storage and reducing the need for frequent unit operation.
Meanwhile, the District Administration is exploring ways to bring Tukergram under the Piped Water Supply Scheme for household tap connections. Until then, the mobile water treatment unit remains a crucial resource, ensuring access to potable water during future floods.
A Larger Effort to Ensure Safe Water Access
As part of the Assam Flood Relief Program, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Government of Assam and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), provided essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services to vulnerable families across six worst-affected districts—Barpeta, Cachar, Dhemaji, Karimganj, Dibrugarh, and Morigaon—reaching 1,000 households in 100 villages.
“Through this program, families received hygiene kits, chlorine tablets, water dispensers, disaster-resilient community toilets, WASH training in schools and communities, and emergency mobile water treatment units. Thanks to this support, people had access to safe drinking water and essential hygiene facilities during and after the floods,” said Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Assam and Northeast states.
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