KOHIMA, Jun 13: As part of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Yuva Sangam Phase-II, 42 students from Nagaland left for Chhattisgarh on 12 June 2023 for a week-long Cultural Exchange Programme. Yuva Sangam is an initiative launched by the Indian Government on 6 February 2023 to promote the culture and communion of the Northeast Region with the rest of the country. It is a multi-dimensional disclosure tour of the Northeastern States through sightseeing, cultural exchange, and interactions. The host Higher Educational Institutions will exchange their students to accomplish the aim of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. This time Nagaland has been paired with Chhattisgarh, where the National Institute of Technology, Riapur (NITRR) will be the host Higher Educational Institution. The students along with four faculty members from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Nagaland, which is the guest Higher Educational Institute and four faculty members from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Nagaland, the guest Higher Educational Institution will be exploring the cultural heritage of Raipur and participating in various cultural, technical, and entertainment events during the week-long stay.
A Flag-off program was held for the Nagaland students at NIT Nagaland, Chumoukedima. Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Former Director and Deputy Legal Advisor, Department of Atomic Energy Mumbai, Dr. Ranjit Prasad Acharya said the youth of the country has a very important role in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He emphasized that societal development will be impossible without the involvement of the youth. Stating that 55 percent of our population consists of the youth, Dr. Acharya said the government has a policy to integrate the youth into society for development. In this regard, he called on the students, as representatives of Nagaland, to showcase the good habits, principles, and ethics of the Nagas to the people of Chhattisgarh. Dr. Acharya advised the students to exchange views and ideas with the people and modulate them into our society for development.
Addressing the programme as Guest of Honour, Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics, NIT Silchar, Dr. Kedar Nath Das said Yuva Sangam is a very good initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which aimed to bring the youth of Northeast India at par with the youths in the other parts of India through cultural exchange programmes under the aegis of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He advised the students to incorporate the TTDPT motto into their visit, which stands for Tourism, Tradition, Development, People-to-People contact, and Technology. Stating that this is a great opportunity to introduce Northeast India to the rest of the country, Professor Das urged the students to get maximum benefits from this exposure trip in learning the cultures of other parts of India and inculcating them with our unique culture.
Speaking at the programme, Director of NIT Nagaland, Dr. S Venugopal said the people of our country are culturally united, but it is only exhibited differently. Stating that without the participation of our girls and women in every field, we cannot progress and develop in our country, Professor Venugopal expressed happiness over the large turnout of girl students in the exchange programme. He urged the students to take this opportunity to revitalize their culture and also propagate the good and positive cultures of others for the welfare and development of our society,
Earlier, welcoming the guests and students, Nodal officer for Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Nagaland state and Associated Dean of Student Affairs, NIT Nagaland, Dr. Rosang Pongen said the main objective of the programme is to showcase the good side of Nagaland and called on the students to exhibit positive ethics and habits as Ambassadors of the state.
The students will attend different programmes at NIT Raipur from the 15th to 19th June. They will return to Nagaland on 20th June. Meanwhile, the 42 students along with four faculty members from Chhattisgarh will arrive in Nagaland on 15th June as exchange students for the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Yuva Sangam Phase-II programme. The students will be on a week-long stay to experience and explore the culture and traditions of Nagaland, which will be hosted by NIT Nagaland.
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Yuva Sangam is being initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.(DPRO Dimapur)