Bhubaneswar: The BJP has decided to raise a volunteer force under the banner of Nua Odisha Nirman Abhijan to counter the state government's scheme of raising the Biju Yuva Bahini.

Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan will launch the programme on Utkal Divas on April 1.

The BJP has entrusted the work to raise the force to a social organisation - Prachi Trust - on behalf of the party.

The programme will be launched on Chandrabhaga sea beach in Konark before sunrise on Utkal Divas.

Secretary-cum-convener of Prachi Trust Lalit Kumar Rath said: "More than 10,000 Odia youths are going to take pledge before the sun god in the name of great heroes, who played a leading role in the formation of Utkal Pradesh, to work for the state."