New Life International & the Local Church Respond to Historic Cyclonic Flooding in India

The village of Nambol Naorem, located under the Nambol Municipal Council in Bishnupur District, is home to over 120 households and a population exceeding 700. The villagers rely on the nearby Uthrapat wetland for their water needs, as they have since they have lived there, and while the wetland sustains their livelihoods, it also poses challenges. The men of the community work as fishers, daily labourers, small-scale self-employment or in limited private or government jobs, while women are primarily engaged in weaving and domestic work to support their families.

Each year, the wetland’s waters flood Nambol Naorem among other villages, with 2024 seeing a record four floods. These floods not only disrupt daily life but also severely affect water quality, contaminating the ponds and water bodies where families traditionally sourced water for household needs. For a long time, cases of dysentery, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases were common, with no nearby healthcare facilities villagers were forced to travel over 25-30 kilometres to Imphal for treatment. “The water from the pukhri is just not drinkable anymore,” says Naorem Manglembi Devi, a 63-year-old village elder, who, like many others, has long relied on the wetlands for drinking water.

Gradually, the community began buying drinking water, turning to private providers who brought water from Waroiching at rates that increased from ₹500 to ₹1000 for 2000 litres. With each household requiring 2000-6000 liters of drinking water monthly, families were spending ₹1000-3000 a month—nearly 10-20% of their monthly income—on water alone. Some residents continued using pond water for cooking to save on costs, while others used drinking water.

The annual floods worsened the situation. For 2-3 months each year, floodwaters as high as 2-2.5 feet make accessing clean water a challenge. Roads become impassable, disrupting water deliveries, and with livelihoods impacted by the flood season, the cost of water becomes an even greater burden.

To address these issues, in the massive floods of 2024, Realm of Nature Based Actions (RNBA) partnered with New Life International (NLI) to install water purification systems at ten strategic locations across flood affected areas of Manipur, including Nambol Naorem. In August, RNBA, with the support of People’s Resource Development Association (PRDA), set up a purification system in the village. The Village Development Committee (VDC), a local institution established by PRDA, has taken on responsibility for managing the system not only for Nambol Naorem but also ensuring access for neighbouring villages. The VDC President, Naorem Ningthemton, who lives closer to the system, oversees the distribution. For four days each week, Ningthemton announces over a village microphone, inviting residents to collect purified water. Currently, the VDC provides 8000 liters weekly, with each collection day supplying 2000 litres.

Ningthemton notes that while the VDC initially led the project, he is encouraging community members, especially the SHGs, to take on more responsibility to ensure the system’s regular operation. There are also discussions within the community to introduce a small fee for water collection to fund ongoing maintenance, allowing for sustainable use of the system.

In the beginning, some residents while standing in the queue got into small disputes over accessing the water, but now they appreciate the process laid out by the VDC. 

For people like Naorem Dineshor, an auto driver who earns a modest daily wage, the purified water system means significant savings. “After operational costs, I take home only ₹250-300. Spending ₹1000 on drinking water was like losing four to five days of income each month,” he says. With the new system, his family not only has safe water but has also saved a substantial part of their monthly income.

Naorem Manglembi Devi, 63 year old woman, reflects on decades of hardship accessing water. “I’ve spent my life carrying water from the wetland ponds. People have suffered—some even died—from drinking unsafe water. Today, I’m just glad to see my community have this relief. I hope to live long enough to witness zero cases of these illnesses here.”

Though villagers still fetch water from the system, they trust its safety—a vital shift after decades of insecurity. The convenience and security of safe drinking water close to home have brought a sense of relief.

Through collaboration and community effort, the water purification system in Nambol Naorem, made possible by Realm of Nature Based Actions, People’s Resource Development Association, and New Life International, has not only provided, a basic necessity, clean water, but also eased financial burdens, improved health, and fostered a sustainable approach to community welfare.