Meet the banker with a green thumb! Despite his demanding career in banking, this dedicated individual always finds time to give back to the community and nurture the environment. Wherever his job takes him, he makes it a point to plant trees and encourages others to do the same.
With a passion for sustainability and a commitment to making a positive impact, he balances his busy office schedule with his mission to greenify the world around him. Whether it’s in the midst of a bustling city or a rural town, he seeks out opportunities to plant trees and promote environmental awareness.
Hailing from Gomundia in Puri district’s Krushnaprasad block, Himanshu Sekhar Nayak has come a long way from his humble farming roots. Now a senior manager at a prestigious private bank, he is dedicated to giving back to the environment. Himanshu has made a significant impact, planting an impressive 70,000 trees, 94,000 palm seeds, and 100,000 neem seeds across Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
For the past decade, Himanshu has been steadfast in his commitment to environmental conservation, allocating a significant portion of his income towards plantation and awareness initiatives. He donates 20 per cent of his monthly salary and a generous 50 per cent of his annual bonus to support these causes. Moreover, he dedicates two hours every day to environmental activities, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to creating a sustainable future.
He founded two groups, Green Parikud in Odisha and Climate Change Solution in Chhattisgarh, under which all his plantation activities are being carried out.
In an interview with Ommcom News, Himanshu opens up about his remarkable journey as a pioneering environmental activist, sharing insights into his transformative path from a dedicated banker to a passionate green crusader.
His unending love for nature has motivated many environmental lovers including housewives, daily wagers, bankers, professionals and businessman colleagues, friends, and even strangers to join him in his tree-planting endeavours. Together, they’ve transformed barren spaces into lush oases, providing shade, beauty, and a haven for wildlife.
Apart from being a banker with 22 years of experience and a green crusader, he is a social media influencer and influential speaker on environmental protection, conducting awareness camps in schools, colleges, villages, and communities.
According to data provided by the state government in the Odisha State Assembly in September 2023, on average, 300 people have died annually in Odisha due to lightning, with a total of 2,058 deaths from lightning strikes in the five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23. A total of 16,372 people have died in various natural calamities during this period.
Most of the victims of lightning strikes in rural areas include farmers, cattle herders, fishers, forest dwellers and labourers working outdoors.
Long before the government launched its initiative to reduce lightning fatalities by planting palm trees, Himanshu had already embarked on a mission to make a difference.
In 2021, he and his team of supporters took the first step by planting 12,000 palm trees in the region. Encouraged by their progress, they scaled up their efforts, planting 13,000 trees in 2022 and a remarkable 56,000 trees in 2023.
This year, they’ve already planted 13,000 palm trees, but Himanshu’s ambition doesn’t stop there. His goal is to reach a staggering 1 lakh palm trees by the end of 2024, creating a veritable ‘palm tree shield’ against lightning strikes.
Himanshu’s passion for tree planting has left a lasting impact wherever he goes. During his posting in Chhattisgarh, he collaborated with like-minded individuals to plant an impressive 5,000 trees in Raipur.
Upon his return to Bhubaneswar in April 2024, Himanshu’s green initiatives continued unabated. His team, supported by the Senior Citizen Forum of Kedara Gouri Apartment, planted 200 trees along the roadside from Ravi Talkies to Lingipur.
His list of accomplishments is very long. He planted 94,000 palm seeds in just 4 years, sowed 15,000 neem seeds, promoting a greener future and nurtured 600 trees along Puri’s iconic route: Bada Danda to Gundicha Mandir to Medical Square. That’s not all. He has transformed Krushnaprasad in Puri into a thriving jungle oasis.
Himanshu’s life has been a testament to resilience and determination. From humble beginnings to becoming a senior manager at a reputable private bank, he has never forgotten the struggles he faced. With a salary of just Rs 3,000 per month as a junior bank executive, Himanshu worked tirelessly to improve his circumstances. Now, in a position of comfort, he allocates a portion of his earnings to support a cause close to his heart – planting trees.
Himanshu’s journey into environmental activism began in July 2015, when he met Ramesh Panda, president of Kalinga Ashram.
Reminiscing those days, Himanshu says, “I still remember my visit to the Kalinga Ashram in July 2015, where I met the ashram president, Ramesh Panda. I asked him to suggest an idea that would bring me real happiness in life. His advice was simple yet profound: plant trees wherever I can, as plant life is in real danger today. He assured me that I would find true happiness in seeing plants grow. Taking his words to heart, I started a plantation in my village with the help of my family and villagers. I bought plants from nurseries in Puri and Brahmagiri and distributed them among the villagers, encouraging them to join me in this green initiative.
“Through our selfless efforts, we have shown that even the smallest actions can make a significant difference. And when it comes to my endeavour, I can say that one person can indeed make a positive impact on the environment, and that personal and professional life can harmoniously coexist with a commitment to social responsibility”, signed off Himanshu.
Rashmi Rekha Das
