The 2016 Assam floods were caused by heavy rains in July 2016. The flooding affected 1.8 million people. As of 1 August 2016, 28 people had died, according to a report of the State Disaster Management Authority. The state of Assam faced around 60% more rains than it received in July. The rainfall resulted in flooding of various rivers. Bramahaputra river had crossed its danger mark level in the seven districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Morigaon and Biswanath

Details	Affected
Number of the people affected	1.8 million people
Number of people dead	28 people
Number of Districts affected	19 districts
Farming land affected	2 Lakh hectares
Crop loss	21-30 percent  Assam tea

 

1. An assessment team from IRCS comprising of following members visited Assam : Dr.Kumar V.L.S, NDRT/RDRT/NDWRT, Indian Red Cross society, Karnataka state branch,  Mr.Bal Bujal, International Committee of Red Cross, Mr. Laba Sarma, DM supervisor, IRCS Assam State branch, Mr. Raj Sarma, Program Manager, IRCS Assam state branch

Team had meeting and discussion with the IRCS Assam state branch chairperson, Mrs.Renuka Devi Barakataki on 9th August 2016. Based on the directions of the chairperson,  team visited following Districts.
10th August 2016-  MARIGOAN district and Bhruagaon  revenue circle

11th August 2016-  DHUBRI District , Bilasipada revenue circle

Meeting with the IRCS Assam State branch Chairperson Smt. Renuka Devi Barkataki


Discussion with the affected community and village panchyath members at Katahldi village, Bilasipada Revenue circle

As part of Assam flood relief  DREF operation relief distribution was  done among  500 families at Bhuragaon  subdivision. The visiting IRCS team was assisted by the District branch members on 23rd August 2016 in the distribution. The first water purification unit was installed in Bhuragaon  on  August 24. Relief distribution was carried out at Morigaon District among  300 Families. 

On 26.08.2016, a team of IRCS volunteers including Mr.Kamrul, NDWRT member from West Bengal State Branch, Mr. Benjamin, ODK trained volunteer from Tamil Nadu State Branch  and Mr.Mirdul, a first medical responder from IRCS Assam State Branch installed Water Purification Unit I (AP CL 700) at Hindujapuri, Bhuragaon Sub Division, Morigaon District. In addition to this a volunteer was nominated to operate, maintain, dismantle and dispatch WPU by the IRCS Bhuragaon Sub Division Office Bearers / Community Leader. The beneficiaries details are follows hereunder:-

 

 

Sl. No.	Particulars (WPU No.)	Date	Place	Water distributed (Litrs.)	No of Family benefited	No of beneficiary
1	AP- 700 WPU- 1	26-08-16	Hindu Japori Village, Bhuragaon Sub- Division, Morigaon District	1100	20	50
2		27-08-16	Do	5000	70	310
3		28-08-16	Do	9000	130	576
4		29-08-16	Do	8250	98	540
5		30-08-16	Do	8750	110	573
6		31-08-16	Do	11000	134	680
7		01-09-16	Do	7000	97	470
8		02-09-16	Do	8200	107	545
9	AP- 700 WPU- 2	31-08-16	Kathaldi Part III village, Bilasipara, Dhubri district	2400	30	160
10		01-09-16	Do	5500	65	370
11		02-09-16	Do	7200	86	470

Subsequently, ODK team of Mr. Uma, RDRT member from IFRC, Mr.M.Karnan, ODK and Mr.Rituraj, FMR, IRCS State Branch conducted ODK training for IRCS Bilashipara Sub Division Office bearers and FMR Volunteers. IRCS Bilashipara expressed its consent to implement ODK as pilot in their district under DREF Operation. Beneficiary’s cards were printed and distributed to IRCS Bilashipara Sub Division for distributing the cards to the Beneficiaries.

The deployed team members visited IRCS Warehouse on 27.08.206 located at Noonmati and a performance check test was conducted on second and third water purification units before dispatch.

Community Consultation was carried with Community Members along with IRCS Bilasipara Sub Divisional Branch. On 31.08.2016, second WPU was installed at Kathaldi.

For the first time in India relief was distributed using the technology of ODK and Mega V in the flood affected region of Dhemaji District in Assam state. The team also distributed 500 family packs in Lakhimpur District.

 

Details of relief Distribution under DREF

* Materials Distributed-

Sl. No.	Date	District	Place of Distribution	No of Kits	Distribution Type
	23/08/2016	Morigaon	Bhuragaon	500	Manual
	24/08/2016		Sahitya Sabha Bhavan, Morigaon	300	Manual
	03/09/2016	Dhemaji	DC’s Office Campus, Dhemaji	250	ODK- 100, Manual- 150
	04/09/2016		DC’s Office Campus, Dhemaji	250	ODK- 100, Manual- 150
	05/09/2016	Lakhimpur	Panigaon Samabai Samittee Office Campus	200	Manual
	06/09/2016	Lakhimpur	Naeboisa Revenue Circle	100	ODK
	06/09/2016		Bihpuria Revenue Circle	100	Manual
	07/09/2016		Dhakumakhana Sub Division	300	Manual
Total				2000

The cost of above mentioned relief material is INR 1.75 crores.

First Time Use of ODK

This was the first time when Open Data Kit (ODK) & Mega 5 have been used in data management of beneficiaries and relief distribution. This innovative solution has been developed using High Tech digital technology, which uses digital bar code scanning (Mega V) that could be used to quickly scan and verify the beneficiary card, rather than manually reviewing registration documents. This approach, tested by other National Societies in different relief operations, helps reduce the waiting time of the beneficiary to get their card validated quickly, increases the security, transparency and dignity of the distribution as well as the beneficiary satisfaction. This also helps in assessments, data analysis and documentation.