By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 8, 2018: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday appointed former Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik as executive chairman of the State Youth Welfare Board.

The former Mumbai top cop, who joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) last month, will look after Biju Yuva Vahini programme of the State government.

CM announced the former Mumbai top cop’s appointment through a tweet. Arup Patnaik will enjoy the rank of a Minister of State (MoS).

Earlier on March 14, the Cabinet headed by Naveen Patnaik had approved the launch of Biju Yuva Vahini under Biju Shashtrikaran Yojana with an aim to nurture leadership and volunteerism, promote sports and sportsmanship and healthy living among youth.

The government has planned to recruit youths for 8,000 units of Biju Yuva Vahini in 6,800 gram panchayats and 120 urban local bodies to channelise their energy towards nation building.

Persons in the age group of 15 to 35 years are taken in as Biju Yuva Vahini members, one-third of which will be women.