Biju Yuva Vahini discontinued for lack of fund allocation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government’s youth engagement programme Biju Yuva Vahini will no longer function as no budget was allocated for the same in current Financial Year 2020-21.

“Biju Yuva Vahini is no more functioning. It is not carrying out any work for the interest of public as no budget was allotted for BYV in 2020-21 fiscal,” said IT, Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera while replying to a question in the state Legislative Assembly today.

Commenting on the matter, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Naik alleged, “the scheme was launched for the benefit of the ruling party during elections. Huge amount of money was looted from state exchequer to fund the BYV.”

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Chief Niranjan Patnaik said, “BJD does not require Biju Yuva Vahini anymore as there is no election around. The ruling party will come up with some other ‘Vahini’ when there will be elections after three years.”

“Though the Minister refrained from directly saying that the programme is closed, It can easily be understood that BYV will seize to exist as Government schemes cannot function without budgetary allocation,” said a political pundit.

It is pertinent to mention here that BYV was introduced by the Sports and Youth Services (DSYS) Department on March 14, 2018 with a total budgetary allocation of Rs 450.49 crore for a period of three years.

The  objective  of the scheme was to promote leadership and spirit of volunteerism among the youths through social action at Gram Panchayat (GP) and Urban Local Body (ULB) level.