Flood Focus in Balasore Inclusive Relief in the Face of Rising Waters: Yuva Vikas Leads Humanitarian Response During Balasore Floods 2025

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By Krushna Kumar Mohanty 

As monsoon rains lashed northern Balasore, the Baliapal and Bhograi blocks found themselves submerged not once, but twice within ten days—turning already flood-prone villages into pockets of despair. This year's flood, arriving unusually early, disrupted lives and livelihoods with a more ruthless face. In these trying times, it was Yuva Vikas Foundation, a community-based organisation headquartered in Balasore, that emerged as a beacon of hope.

Mobilising over 60 volunteers across Bishnupur, Jamkunda, Asti, and Aruhabrutti gram panchayats, the foundation’s grassroots teams—especially women's collectives—braved the waterlogged villages, ensuring voices from the margins were heard and humanitarian needs urgently reported.

> “When institutions delay, communities rise,” says Gobinda Dalai, founder of Yuva Vikas. “Despite systemic neglect, we stood by the people—not as charity, but as a duty.”

Here are the five key interventions led by Yuva Vikas that showcase how community-driven initiatives can redefine flood response:

1. Naivedya Community Kitchen: Nourishment Amidst Crisis

In a region where families typically cook on mud stoves—now destroyed or waterlogged—Yuva Vikas set up Naivedya, a network of community kitchens. Meals comprising rice, dalma (lentils with vegetables), and chutney are cooked collectively, easing the burden on individual households.

With a goal of feeding 2,000+ people for 15–20 days, the initiative offers more than food—it provides a space for solidarity and care. (Photos attached.)

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2. CARE Kits: Dignified Support for the Vulnerable

For single women, the disabled, and destitute families, dry ration kits—funded through micro-contributions—are being distributed under the CARE Kit campaign. Contributors are directly connected with the beneficiary, fostering a people-to-people chain of kindness.

Having already supported 230+ families, the foundation aims to reach 3,000 out of 15,000 affected households, countering delayed government aid with people-powered action. (Photos included.)

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3. Livestock Feed: Saving the Silent Victims

With pastures submerged and no green fodder in sight, cattle and goats face starvation. Yuva Vikas has begun supplying silage and dry feed to sustain 2,000+ animals, acknowledging the vital link between livestock, livelihood, and rural resilience.

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4. Paddy Seedling Revival: Bringing Back Lost Crops

Floods have washed away paddy nurseries just before transplantation. To recover lost time, progressive farmers, aided by Yuva Vikas, are growing new seedlings in rooftop and backyard nurseries. Preferred paddy varieties are sourced from local markets to support marginal farmers across several villages in Baliapal and Bhograi blocks.

This initiative could help hundreds of farmers avoid seasonal delay and ensure they aren’t robbed of their yearly harvests.

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5. Inclusive Health Camps: Healing Bodies and Minds

In villages like Ikadpal, Yuva Vikas organised inclusive health camps led by a dedicated team of doctors including Dr. Rabi Narayan Dash (Sweden), Dr. Manoj Barik, Dr. Anup Kumar Dadha, and Deepak Barik, reaching 300+ patients. The addition of a bike ambulance ensured even the bedridden and disabled could access care.

But it was more than medicine. Stories of trauma and silent suffering surfaced. One woman—left with aging in-laws, a mentally challenged brother-in-law, and a toddler—epitomised the invisible emotional toll of disaster.

> “You can treat fever and wounds, but what heals trauma?,” reflects Dalai. “We need wellness beyond medicine.”

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A Model of People-Led Relief

As authorities stall and policies remain paper-bound, Yuva Vikas Foundation has proven that real relief begins from within the community. These five pillars—food, dignity, agriculture, animal care, and health—have become lifelines in the flood’s aftermath.

In a time when many are still waiting for a government announcement, the people have already responded.