CBM India extends relief support to 2000 disaster-affected families in Punjab and Uttarakhand
CBM India has a long history of responding to major disasters, including the Odisha super cyclone (1999), Bhuj earthquake (2001), tsunami (2004), Kerala floods (2018), the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone Remal in West Bengal (2024).
Initiative focuses on inclusive recovery, livelihood restoration and support for persons with disabilities
India, December 10: CBM India has extended relief and recovery support to 2,000 families affected by recent floods, landslides and a cloudburst in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and the Jalandhar district of Punjab. The initiative aims to ensure that the most marginalised — including persons with disabilities, women, elderly people and children — can rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.
Months after the disaster, many families in both states continue to restore their homes and livelihoods. While government and civil society efforts have been ongoing, CBM India said communities require sustained support to return to stability. Its intervention supplements these efforts through inclusive, need-based assistance.
CBM India distributed dry food supplies and health and hygiene kits containing staple food items such as wheat, rice, pulses, oil and spices, along with soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins and cleaning materials. In the coming months, the organisation will provide assistive devices to persons with disabilities to replace those lost or damaged in the disaster, ensuring accessibility throughout the recovery process.
The initiative also includes disaster management training on early warning systems, shelter management, search and rescue, first aid, psychosocial well-being and the role of communities as first responders. All sessions are designed to enable full participation of persons with disabilities.
In Chamoli district, CBM India will additionally support families with education, household recovery and livelihoods. As part of the programme, 250 children will receive school supplies and uniforms. Essential household materials — including gas stoves, utensils, bedsheets and blankets — will be distributed to 125 families, along with tarpaulin sheets, solar lamps and warm clothing.
A major component of the initiative is livelihood restoration. Seventy-five people will receive training and assistance to rebuild or start income-generating activities such as beekeeping, farming and animal husbandry. The organisation said restoring earning capacity helps families recover steadily and prevents them from sliding deeper into poverty.
Sony Thomas, executive director of CBM India, said inclusive humanitarian action must extend beyond immediate crisis relief. “It is equally important to provide support that helps affected communities regain stability once the initial crisis has passed. Through this project, we’re helping families not only meet their essential needs but also rebuild their livelihoods and move toward a stronger, more secure future,” he said.
CBM India has a long history of responding to major disasters, including the Odisha super cyclone (1999), Bhuj earthquake (2001), tsunami (2004), Kerala floods (2018), the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone Remal in West Bengal (2024). It is also implementing a mangrove restoration project in the Sundarbans, where more than 30,000 saplings have been planted to strengthen coastal resilience.
About CBM India Trust
CBM India Trust is a not-for-profit development organisation working to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other marginalised communities. It partners with disabled persons’ organisations, community groups, institutions and governments to remove barriers to participation in health, education and livelihood opportunities. In 2024–25, CBM India reached more than 20.6 lakh people across 17 states and union territories.
