Dhanbad, Dec. 24: The two-day 23rd national conference of the All India Marwari Yuva Manch which kicked off at the Agarwal Dharamshala in Jharia today was unique in two ways.

One that it was declared the first mini-convention of the manch and the second one is that it was inaugurated by the most celebrated youth in the state, chief minister Madhu Koda. “Since Koda is just around our age we wanted him to be a part of this all-youth programme,” said Pankaj Agarwal, the coordinating secretary of the manch.

With head adorned with a red safa, the Marwari headgear, and mementoes presented by the youth members, Koda was looking the most cheerful among the 115-odd Marwari youth members of the Jharia unit. His chair and tight security cover, however, saved his coveted identity.

The members of the manch, in fact, wanted to hear from the young chief minister some words of encouragement and appreciation of their work. The Jharia unit claims to be one of the most active units across the country. It started in 1985 when the All-India Marwari Yuva Manch was instituted at the national level.

After two decades and full of social activities, the manch is now spreading its wings into Nepal and America. “We are opening the new international branches in 2007,” the national president of the manch, Anil K. Jajodiya, said.

Koda, taking into account the activities of the manch in the state, quoted Swami Vivekananda and tried to encourage the members with instances of youth power. He also lauded the work of the manch in nari swabalamban (women self-dependence) programme and rural social welfare activities, including the watershed management.