North East Network has been building community resilience to address the pandemic and its effects on women and girls in Assam. NEN diversified livelihoods including weaving, farming and crafts for women which are critical to sustain our eco systems. Coupled with the effect of the pandemic, weavers also faced the wrath of severe floods in Assam in the summer of 2022. The pre-monsoons in Assam this year submerged houses, damaged paddy fields following overflowing of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries. The weavers we work with in our field areas in Kamrup, Darrang and Udalguri districts faced hardships as their houses are submerged in water. Some of them had to move to relief camps. In these 3 districts, NEN supported 108 households in total with basic ration who are affected by flood and faced hardships. Looms of 39 weavers were fully/partly damaged and some also lost tools and equipment in the mud and deluge. Realising the crucial need of the hour, support was given to flood affected weavers to repair their looms, worksheds and also buy new tools and equipment so that they can re-start their weaving in full earnest without delay. The community decided to contribute the labour that was required for the repair work.
