BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday dismissed all rumours that farmers will have to pay back the assistance given to them by the state government under the Kalia scheme.“It is your money. You can utilise it in agricultural activities. No one can stop the Kalia scheme,” said Naveen, while addressing the regional conclave of Biju Yuva Vahini at Khurda.A day after the cabinet passed a proposal to cover 45 lakh farmers under the scheme by March-end, Naveen said, while more than 30 lakh farmers have already been covered under Kalia, 10 lakh more will be brought under the scheme by the end of this fiscal.Emphasising that Odisha can grow with the growth of its youths, farmers and women, Naveen asked the BYV volunteers to serve the deprived and downtrodden. He also lauded their philanthropic activities.He released a coffee table book on the sports festival and other activities that were simultaneously organised during the Men’s World Cup Hockey.Wednesday’s regional conclave was the seventh of the BYV, a scheme of the sports and youth affairs department, which aims to promote leadership and volunteerism among youths.The programme is also seen as an effort by the ruling BJD to garner support of youths in the run up to the elections. Around 3 lakh youths are part of the programme. Naveen has already addressed regional conclaves at Balangir, Sambalpur, Koraput , Kandhamal, Balasore and Cuttack The opposition parties have dubbed the BYV as “goonda” vahini and alleged that the volunteers were groomed by spending money from the state exchequer to help the ruling party during the elections.Earlier during the day, the BJP moved Governor Ganeshi Lal demanding inquiry into distribution of cellphones among BYV volunteers by a mining company.

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