Bhubaneswar: One week after unveiling its manifesto for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday stressed that youth budget of Rs one lakh crore for ten years is its most important feature.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Convenor of BJD Manifesto Committee and former MP Amar Patnaik said the first guarantee in the manifesto released by party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is to place the youth at the forefront of the mission to make Odisha the best state by 2034.
Stating that youths will play a major role in making Odisha the number one state of India in next ten years, the BJD national spokesperson said the party aims at ensuring holistic development of youth power to achieve the goal by 2034.
Describing the youth budget promised in the BJD manifesto as unique, he said Odisha is the first state in the country to moot such a concept to build ‘Youth Odisha, Nabin Odisha.’
Stating that an amount of Rs one lakh crore budget will be provided for ten years for the purpose, the former MP said neither the Centre nor any state government has ever tried to bring such a budget for empowering the youth.
Taking a dig at BJP, he said the saffron party has only been talking about empowering and skilling youths but never bothered to take such a concrete step.
Stating that the proposed budget would be introduced after obtaining the views of young people, the BJD leader said the Chief Minister decided to take this revolutionary step as he believes in action and not words.
Similarly, the second guarantee in the manifesto provides for Nabin Odisha Magic Card for students and those performing well in studies will be able to get a host of facilities, he said.
Interest subvention of educational loans will go a long way in helping students from the middle-class category in pursuing their education, he said, adding that a single-window portal would be introduced to guide the youths.
While two lakh job opportunities would be created in the government sector, the private sector would also provide enormous avenues for employment for which a number of steps are being taken to skill themselves in different areas.