Mrs Binapani Mangal, a grassroots volunteer from Akhuapada village in Nerada Gram Panchayat of Bhadrak district, has emerged as a committed changemaker through her active engagement with Reliance Foundation’s disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Located close to the Baitarani River, her village is highly flood-prone and increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Seasonal flooding, river overflows and extreme weather events are recurring realities for the community. These challenges have strengthened Binapani’s resolve to work towards resilience and environmental protection.

Over the past two years, she has played a pivotal role in advancing Nature-based Solutions in the district, particularly through palm conservation efforts. Reliance Foundation’s palm seed plantation drives aim to strengthen coastal and riverine resilience and contribute to lightning hazard risk reduction, in line with guidance from the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

Binapani has been at the forefront of these initiatives, leading and supporting plantation drives across five Gram Panchayats in Bhandaripokhari block. During this period, she has contributed to the plantation of more than 10,000 palm seeds. Through sustained community mobilisation, she has engaged PRI members, youth volunteers and local residents, while raising awareness about the importance of palm conservation as a long-term resilience measure.

Beyond plantation efforts, Binapani has participated in several Reliance Foundation programmes focused on climate-resilient livelihoods, strengthening her understanding of sustainable practices and community preparedness.

Her journey underscores the power of community-led action in building disaster resilience and fostering environmental stewardship in vulnerable regions — demonstrating how local leadership can drive lasting, nature-positive change.