World Water Day: Assam’s Tukergram, stranded by floods, finds lifeline in mobile water unit

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 that was once part of the meandering Barak River, this hillock turns into an island for four to five months during the floods—sometimes even seven months or more, 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. Until recently, this village also faced an annual battle against nature, highlighting the urgency of access to clean water—an issue central to World Water Day, which falls on March 22.

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.

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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 constructed toilets. 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 use *phitkiri* (alum) to decontaminate the water.

“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.

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Being corralled in one place, people are unable to eke out any livelihood. 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 issue at hand, Unicef India 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&R) department—worked with the community to test the lake water for contamination.

“In response to the severe floods in Assam in 2024, Unicef, in collaboration with the Government of Assam and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), provided essential WASH services to vulnerable families across six worst-affected districts of Barapeta Cachar, Dhemaji Karimganj, Dibrugarh and Morigaon covering 1,000 households in 100 villages ensuring access to safe drinking water and hygiene facilities.” said Dr Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office, Unicef, Assam and northeastern states.

An emergency mobile water treatment unit was provided, which purifies the lake water through a simple process: pumping, filtration and disinfection using chlorine. The unit is easy to install and operate—so simple that even children have learned to use it."

“The difference in water, before and after the unit, is as clear as the difference in silver and gold. The water is as clean as the rainwater from above. We have never got clean water to drink, so for us getting the unit is like getting the universe,” said Abdul Jabbar, 58 years, resident and member of sub-water committee of Tukergram.

The intervention not only addressed the immediate water needs but also helped build community resilience against future floods. With dedicated training and support, local volunteers are now equipped to operate and maintain the unit independently.

“The mobile water treatment unit has been a game-changer for Tukergram, ensuring safe drinking water, especially during floods. DDMA played a key role—from assessing needs to mobilising resources and coordinating with stakeholders. To sustain this, we’re focussing on training volunteers, building partnerships, and securing dedicated funds for future deployments,” said Shamim Laskar, Project Officer, District Disaster Management Authority, Cachar district.

The Community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC) plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between communities and disaster response agencies, ensuring that relief reaches those who need it most.

“The community Facilitation and Resource Centre (CFRC) conducts regular meetings, vulnerability mapping, and beneficiary surveys for hygiene kits and community toilet projects. We support the Deshbandhu Club team in hygiene kit distribution and awareness sessions. During floods, we act as a bridge between communities and agencies like SDRF and DDMA, ensuring timely assistance with evacuation, clean water, and medical aid,” said Ashim Kumar Das, Nodal officer, CFRC (Tarinpur GP).

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 Rs20 per week ($0.23) for daily collection of water from the unit." 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 reduced,” said Sajida Begum Talukdar, 28, a trained operator of the unit.

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 operation of the unit.

“In Tukergram, 32 families lacked access to clean water. The mobile water treatment unit provides safe drinking water year-round. We ensure its maintenance and, during floods, distribute clean water to nearby villages, preventing waterborne diseases and improving resilience,” said Ashim Kumar Das, Nodal Officer, CFRC.

Meanwhile, the district administration is exploring ways to bring Tukergram under the Piped Water Supply Scheme for household tap connections in the near future. Until then, the mobile water treatment unit remains a crucial resource, ensuring access to potable water during future floods.

“Implementing sustainable water and sanitation solutions in remote, flood-prone areas isn’t easy. Hilly terrain makes access difficult; funding depends on ASDMA & the Revenue Department, and infrastructure gaps persist. Raising community awareness and coordinating multiple stakeholders add to the challenge, but we are committed to finding solutions”, said Shamim Laskar, Project Officer, DDMA, Cachar district.

A larger effort to ensure safe water access

Beyond Tukergram, efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation have been scaled across multiple flood-affected regions. Unicef and its partners have adopted a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that relief efforts are not just temporary solutions, but long-term interventions aimed at strengthening community resilience. By integrating emergency response with sustainable WASH programmes, the initiative is helping families prepare, adapt and recover faster from future disasters.

“Through the Assam Flood Relief Programme, hygiene kits, chlorine tablets and water dispensers, raised or disaster resilient community toilets, WASH training in schools and communities and emergency mobile water treatment and filtration units were provided. Thanks to this support, people could have access to safe and clean drinking water, essential hygiene and sanitation facilities during and after the floods”, said Dr Jonathan.