Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 4: Prof A Ravinder Nath, Director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, and the Institute’s Registrar, Prof Atikur Rahman, initiated the departure of students for a week-long exposure tour under the Yuva Sangam 2024, Phase IV of the initiative.
The send-off ceremony, attended by Dean of Planning and Development Dr Yashwant Mehta, Estates Officer Dr Karthik Dasari, Dr Janani L, and various other faculty members, marked a significant stride in cultural integration and educational exchange.
The event featured 45 students from diverse educational institutions across the 22 districts of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
As per a statement, these students were selected through a comprehensive process overseen by Dr Ranjeet Kumar Rout, the Nodal Officer for the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) campaign, which aims to bolster unity through cultural understanding.
In addition to these students, five volunteers will accompany the group to assist throughout the journey, the statement said.
This year, the students will visit Maharashtra, engaging with their peers from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur (VNIT Nagpur), the paired institution for this phase. The trip, fully funded by the host institutes, will cover food, travel, and accommodation expenses.
During the ceremony, Prof Nath reminisced about his own student days and the profound impact such tours had on his perspective and leadership skills.
He motivated the students by highlighting the tour as a pivotal opportunity to embrace and learn from India’s diverse cultures.
Prof Rahman elaborated on the significance of exposure tours, emphasizing how firsthand experiences of different cultures can inspire creativity, foster respect, and enhance social empathy among the youth.
“Yuva Sangam is designed to strengthen people-to-people connections and foster empathy among our nation’s youth. NIT Srinagar is committed to supporting such initiatives in the future as well,” Prof Rahman asserted.
The program encapsulates multi-dimensional exposure across five broad areas: Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology), and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).
These elements are integral to achieving the overarching goals of the EBSB campaign, which seeks to enrich the students’ understanding of the myriad dimensions of Indian culture.
The orientation program held the previous Friday equipped the participants with essential information and guidance for their upcoming adventure, ensuring they are well-prepared to make the most of this educational and cultural exchange.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
