Puri: Meet the unsung heroes of Puri who are doing their bit to safeguard the lives of others at a time when the country is under the grip of a pandemic. We are saying about the selfless service of the young members of voluntary organization “Youth For Better Puri” (YBP). They have been a part and parcel of Puri’s fight against the pandemic. Be it creating awareness among the masses or helping destitute find a shelter, the YBP members have dedicated their maximum time for the benefit of the needy.
While the organisation may not be in any news or mainstream media, its members are on the streets of Puri and their selfless work speaks volumes regarding their commitment.
While the District administration is making all out efforts to keep a tab on the surge of Covid-19, the members of YBP are on the fields making people aware about the need to obey Covid appropriate behavior. They are undertaking awareness activities in the busy markets of the city and among the tourists who come for the darshan of Lord Jagannath. Not only this, the voluntary organization is involved in supporting the common man during lockdown and shutdown in the city. The members are helping people in need with medicines, essentials and food. They have been making rounds to the houses of people staying in quarantine and taking care of them.
The most benefited among the people by the members of YBP are the elderly citizens. Its members are helping actively helping the senior citizens from in and outside the state to have a hassle free darshan of the Lord. They are working shoulder to shoulder with the Puri Police to maintain discipline in the Badadanda crowd.
Speaking about the organization and its initiatives, Bimal Patnaik, a key member of YBP, says that we are a group of volunteers who came forward with our own intention to make Puri more beautiful. Our motto is to help as many people as possible and show the world that Puri Cares for everyone. We have got all the support from the administration. They guide us on how to help them.”
Samarth Verma, Collector, Puri, has all the praises for YBP. He says, the members of Youth for Better Puri are whole heartedly helping us in many of our initiatives. Their active involvement during the time of pandemic is incomparable. Their efforts have surely helped us in controlling the surge of Covid in the district and particularly in Puri town.
With about 120 members, Youth For Better Puri is on a mission to help others at any time be it day or night. With the help of local police they have been maintaining discipline and managing crowd in the streets. They have become an important part in our efforts to maintain law and order in the city, says Puri SP Dr. Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Their engagement is not confined to the pandemic time. They had a relentless work in association with the Puri Municipality and district administration. The members of YBP are helping as Swachha Sathis and spreading the message of cleanliness and have become a part of the Citizen Engagement Drive across Puri Town. Their dedicated work during the Kartika month in helping the Habishyalis has got all the blessings from the senior citizens.