A group of students from Chhattisgarh reached Goa today as part of a six-day exposure tour under ‘Yuva Sangam’ initiative, a vital component of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) programme launched by Government of India.
The delegates, comprising 45 Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate students from diverse backgrounds along with five officials, were received by Prof O.R. Jaiswal, Director, NIT Goa; Dr Shashidhar Kudari, Registrar, NIT Goa, and other officials at Madgaon Railway Station.
A welcome ceremony was held at the NIT for the delegates which was attended by Govind Gaude, Minister for Sports, Art & Culture, and Rural Development. Addressing the gathering, the minister said that the Yuva Sangam programme was aimed at training the youth to be an asset to the nation, which will help India become a developed nation by 2047.
“Vikasit Bharat is a dream of all of us now. The student community has a pivotal role to play in achieving that dream. I want all of you to be focused and garner more knowledge in your profession. That will help the country as a whole in attaining our dream,” the minister said.
Prof. M.S. Krupashankara, Principal, Goa College of Engineering; Prof O.R. Jaiswal, Director, NIT Goa; and Surendra Naik, Central government representative of Yuva Sangam, were also present at the event.
The delegates also visited heritage sites in Old Goa and Ponda today as part of the exposure tour. The group will be taken to all the important destinations and unique attractions in the State before leaving on 22nd December.
Earlier in the month, a group of students from NIT Goa had visited Chhattisgarh under the Yuva Sangam programme. The Ministry of Education had kick-started the third phase of Yuva Sangam in November, which will have students studying in higher educational institutions in the age group 18-30 years from across the nation travelling to their paired states. Around 20 such tours will be conducted under the third phase.
Yuva Sangam, launched under EBSB, draws inspiration from the National Education Policy 2020 and focuses on experiential learning and imbibing knowledge of the rich diversity of India on a first-hand basis. It is an ongoing cultural exchange with the celebration of diversity at its core wherein participants gain an immersive experience of diverse facets of life, natural landforms, development landmarks, recent achievements, and youth connect in the host state. Twenty eminent institutions across India have been identified for Phase III of Yuva Sangam, where in NIT Goa has been paired with IIT Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.
