The Buridehing River continues its relentless march of destruction through villages in the Kumchai Gaon Panchayat, 83 No. Margherita Constituency, leaving a trail of despair and a growing cry for government intervention. Indigenous communities in areas like Toklong No. 1 and No. 2, Madhupur, and Amrit are grappling with an existential crisis as fertile agricultural lands vanish into the swirling waters and homes become uninhabitable. Thousands of bighas have already been swallowed, displacing families and obliterating livelihoods.
The silence from the Margherita MLA, district administration, and concerned ministers has been deafening, according to distraught locals who allege complete negligence in addressing their plight. This perceived apathy has only amplified the suffering of those living precariously along the riverbanks.
In a show of solidarity and an effort to amplify the villagers’ voices, a joint team from the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) visited Toklong No. 2 on Saturday. The delegation included AIYF state executive member Ratul Gogoi, AIKS assistant secretary Sanjeev Ganguly, and Tinsukia district AIYF leaders Bijendra Gogoi and Hemanta Gogoi, who directly engaged with the flood-affected residents.
A community meeting, held at Toklong No. 2 Primary School, became a platform for anguished residents to articulate their grievances. The overwhelming sentiment was one of abandonment, with villagers highlighting the complete absence of government aid despite the ongoing erosion of their land and, consequently, their futures.
During the impassioned gathering, a unanimous resolution was passed to form a dedicated committee. This body will soon present their demands to the Assam Government, seeking not just temporary relief but a permanent, lasting solution to the recurring menace of floods and soil erosion that has plagued their lives for far too long.