The State Government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that members of the Biju Yuva Bahini are voluntary social workers and are not paid any allowance or incentive for services.
In response to a question of BJP MLA Dillip Ray, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Chandra Sarathi Behera informed that a total of 7,174 Biju Yuva Bahinis (BYVs) have so far been formed and 2,51,600 volunteers (girls and boys) have joined them in all 30 districts. The Highest 21,370 youths have joined the BYV in Baleswar followed by 19,254 in Cuttack district followed by 16,248 in Ganjam, 13, 665 in Kalahandi, 12,893 in Bhadrak, 12,286 in Balaingir, 11,963 in Mayurbhanj, 11,056 in Khordha, 10,787 in Jajpur, 10,304 in Keonjhar, 10,271 in Kendrapada and 10,149 in Bargarh. The number of BYV volunteers is the lowest in Boudh where only 1,738 have joined it.
The Minister said youths would be engaged in different social works in both rural and urban areas. Sports will be organised in gram panchayat levels to create a health atmosphere under the programme. Youths would be involved in “Mu Hero’ programme and talents would be identified from among them. Efforts will be made to provide them identity in the society, the Minister said.
To achieve all these, the Government has set to provide Rs 1.5 lakh per annum to each Yuva Vahini. The Government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs 45,049.07 lakh for three years for this purpose, the Minister said.
