Success Story of Rupaibali Beel Development: Transforming Livelihoods through Community-Led Wetland Management

Rupaibali Beel, an expansive 92-hectare oxbow-shaped wetland, is located in the Binnakandi Block of Cachar district, Assam. Historically, this beel has served as a crucial natural resource for sustaining the livelihoods of fisherfolk residing in the nearby villages of Hazarigram and Hatirhar. These communities, comprising primarily marginalized groups, have depended heavily on the beel for generations, relying on its rich aquatic resources for both nutritional needs and economic sustenance. The wetland not only supported fishery-based activities but also contributed significantly to the ecological stability of the surrounding areas by regulating local hydrology and serving as a habitat for a wide variety of aquatic flora and fauna.