During the pre monsoons in north east generally during the month of March the region is hit by strong gust of winds which generally comes from the north towards the east /south east which we Assamese call the ' Pasuwa Botah’. These winds temporarily die down but revive itself during the first or second week of April which increased wind strength along with rain squalls. Sometimes these winds take a demonic form with gust of winds ranging from 50 to 80 Km per hour, which in Assamese is called ‘BORDOISILLA’. According to proverb it is said that Bordoisilla comes to visit her mother for the Rongali Bihu. About 10 days later she goes back towards the Himalayas in the north.

It is said that BORDOISILLA brings with her greenery and the start of the monsoon which of course is followed by the planting season in Assam. This year Bordoisila was unusually violent and destructive, rendering thousands / lacs of people homeless.

The destruction was so vast that the entire state was reeling under its fury. SWABALAMBI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serve Disabled was also unable to escape from this fury.

SWABALAMBI was started in 1997 by a group of Special Educators and Rehab personnel certified by the Rehabilitation Council of India. The team started work in the Disability sector at the grass root level. Most of the people in the remote villages do not have the means to even travel to towns for consultation, professional help and medical treatment. Swabalambi with its well equipped staff provided these services at their doorstep.
SWABALAMBI is a registered under Society’s Act 1860, National Trust Act 1998, and Persons with Disability ACT 1995, Rehabilitation Council Act 1980 & FCRA. It is a CBR (Community Based Re-habilitation) organization.

SWABALAMBI has partnered with Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Textile SWABALAMBHI's. We are funded by Miserior, Germany routed through CARITAS INDIA, CBCI Centre, and Ashok Place New Delhi 110001

SWABALAMBI organizes Training for Families, School Teachers (Govt. ) for inclusion of children with disabilities in regular Schools, Training for Gaon Panchayats Leaders, Government Officials and Peer Groups at Schools on Disability. We have 40 Integrated Self Help Groups of Disabled Office Bearers and other disabled Members for empowerment of the disabled and to sustain our community based rehabilitation program in future.

SWABALAMBI has been able to place nearly 128 challenged children into regular schools. It also works with all people up to 65 years of age. It operates in Dimoria Block - 12 Gram Panchayats.

Our centre SWABALAMBI at Sonapur bore the brunt of its fury which caused immense damage, ripping of the roof along with the heavy rafters and the purling timberwork. It was an unexpected devastation. The disabled boys that reside there and look after the place were literally weeping in fear when we met them next morning. We are lucky that no one was physically hurt, having spent the entire night under their beds. Even the nearby villages were flattened by this year’s Bordoisila.

Hope this piece of news gives a clear picture of what happened on 24th April 2010 to SWABALAMBI.

Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA) is engaging with Swabalambi for the past 4 months and have made site visit to their offices - our volunteer Arindam Kataki of San Diego visited this April.

Contact Swabalambi at +91 - 9854269807 and +91 – 9435190397

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Visit us for more information http://swabalambi.org