Alichiga Patnawalla village in Lakhimpur District, Assam is a flood-prone village, perennially affected by floods from the River Subansiri. In the year 2018, a Rescue Shelter along with sanitation facilities was constructed over a high raised platform with support from HDFC Bank. Since then the shelter serves the community as a makeshift home for the flood-affected families during a flood and in normal times as community meeting centre.
It is serving an added purpose during this time of COVID-19 outbreak as the disaster rescue shelter is now converted to community-based quarantine centre for the migrant workers who have returned home or any person showing symptoms of Coronavirus. The community people unanimously agreed to operate the rescue centre as a quarantine centre as it has all the facilities necessary for persons to quarantine. At present, there are 2 people, returning from Mumbai after losing their job, quarantine at the community set-up facility which is strictly maintained by the Village Development Committee. Food and other necessary items are being provided to them with utmost safety measures. Additionally, regular health monitoring is done by the assigned ASHA worker.
