An all-female disaster management group in Dodharachandani village, of Kanchanpur, is doing a laudable job raising awareness in the area about water-induced disasters, issuing flood alerts in the neighbourhood and showing up at disaster-hit areas with emergency supplies.

When Bhairab Tol, Jamunanaghari, Pattharnala and Twaltwale Tol witnessed flood recently it was the same group that responded with relief and rescue works.  

Tika Thapa, one of the group members, said the village women decided to form a team for disaster management since the area has always been vulnerable to flood from Mahakali and Jogbudha rivers.

Almost every year during monsoon, she said, the villagers have to rely on the local authorities for rescue and aid.  

“So we though why not team up to work towards mitigating the loss related to flood,” Tika said. “We are doing what we can from our side.”

And what these women are doing from their side is a lot: from raising awareness, conducting rescue,  getting relief supplies to offering primary treatment in flood-hit villages.

Another group member Champa Thapa said the women had to unite for the cause because most of the men work in India.

“Basically, most of us here are women, children and elderly citizens. A majority of the male population in the region are work in India. So it is us, women, guarding our homes and keeping our families safe in times of flood,” said Champa.    

Nepal Rastriya Samaj Kalyan Sangh, an NGO, has provided financial assistance to the group.