Sasmita Pradhan, a 29-year-old grassroots professional with a Master’s degree, has been actively supporting livestock-based livelihoods in Tihidi block of Bhadrak district. Since July 2025, she has been serving as an A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) with the Livestock Department. Prior to this, she worked for nearly four years as a Pranimitra, closely engaging with farming households and gaining deep insight into the everyday challenges faced by livestock-dependent communities.

In December 2025, she participated in a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on Livestock Protection in Emergencies, facilitated by Reliance Foundation in coordination with the Livestock Department, Bhadrak. The training proved transformative in strengthening her technical and practical knowledge. It covered key areas including disaster risks to livestock, evacuation planning, early warning systems, emergency feed and fodder management, vaccination and deworming protocols, as well as the Participatory Response Identification Matrix (PRIM).

Following the training, Sasmita has been actively collaborating with Reliance Foundation to generate awareness on livestock protection and support vaccination drives within the community. She has also initiated the cultivation of Napier grass and promotes green fodder practices among farmers to enhance fodder security during emergencies.

With six livestock of her own, the training has strengthened both her professional engagement and personal preparedness. By translating knowledge into action, Sasmita continues to support vulnerable households in safeguarding their animals and sustaining livelihoods during times of crisis — reinforcing the importance of preparedness-led resilience at the community level.