Patnaik asks BJD youth leaders to use social media to reach people

PTI, Jul 6, 2023, 8:16 PM IST

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked the party’s youth wing leaders to actively use social media to reach out to the people and inform them about the various welfare measures taken by his government.

Patnaik said this while addressing the state executive committee meeting of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) here. ”As you know, social media is a powerful medium these days. I expect you to remain active in social media and ensure that the pro-people initiatives of our government and party are communicated successfully”, Patnaik said.

Stating that the transformational journey of Odisha has been making headlines across the country, the chief minister said some of the state’s initiatives have also received global recognition. ”So we should reach out to the people with absolute conviction,” he said. Patnaik claimed that his government and party have always been with the people in their good times, bad times and changing times.

The chief minister said, ”Whatever the situation might be, we have always engaged with the people all the times”. He said there has always been a human face in our approach to the state’s endeavours. ”That is our hallmark. That is our strength. We should always maintain this. Engage with the people with a focus on our development and welfare efforts,” he told the youth leaders.

Patnaik also recalled his legendary father Biju Patnaik, on whose name the BJD is formed and noted that the youth have been playing a remarkable role in shaping the destinies of communities, countries and states. He said Biju Babu always trusted the youth of Odisha to play a major role in redefining the destiny of the state.

The chief minister also informed the youth leaders that the state has come a long way since BJD took charge in 2000. ”Whether it is food security, disaster management, finance management, poverty alleviation, women empowerment, sports, IT, urban development, infrastructure development, tourism and industry along with socio-economic indicators, Odisha has seen a giant leap in all these sectors. It is not possible without the contribution of the youth,” Patnaik said. He also claimed that Odisha has now reached a certain level of development. ”If it has to become a developed state, youth power has to fire on all cylinders. I have absolute trust in all of you that you will keep the state as a priority in all your actions and work for its development,” he said. BYJD president Byomekesh Ray said that the party’s youth proposed to hold mass conventions in all district headquarters to highlight the central negligence towards the state.