Yuva Sangam Phase-IV: NIT Srinagar selected as Nodal Centre for J&K, Ladakh

Local students can visit and explore Maharashtra at free of cost

SRINAGAR, February 02: For the phase-IV of Yuva Sangam 2024, the National Institute of Technology Srinagar (NIT) Srinagar has been selected as the Nodal Centre for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

In the Yuva Sangam phase IV, the participants from the paired institutes will be exchanged under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) campaign of the Ministry of Education. Under this exchange programme, participants will get the opportunity for multi-dimensional exposure.

For Phase IV of the programme, promising opportunities await students, youth, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to partake in this enriching journey.

Therefore, 22 Higher Education Institutions from pan India have been paired to organize the tours and steer the programme. Among these institutions, NIT Srinagar has been selected as the Nodal Centre for UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Nodal officers for this programme include Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Rout, Dr. Mohd Mohsin Khan, Dr. Nitika Kundan and Dr. Sumaira Jan, while Dr. Pankaj Kumar and Dr. Mohd Rafiq Teli are the Social Media Officer and PR Officer respectively.

Under this initiative, 45 native students from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs) will have the opportunity to visit Maharashtra. During these visits, Food, travel, and accommodation charges for the students will be borne by the host institutes.

 Similarly, a delegation of 45 members from Maharashtra will be hosted by the NIT Srinagar, J&K for five days.  Interested youths between 18 and 30 years of age, native students (UG, PG, PhD and Off Campus from any district of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs)) may register through the Yuva Sangam portal to participate in the forthcoming phase of the initiative launched in 2023.

Registrations are already open and will be accepted till February 4. The selection criteria will be as per the MoE guidelines.  The registration link is provided as https://ebsb.aicte-india.org/

Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath said there is the significance of exposure tours for students, stating that they play a crucial role in providing exposure to new environments, cultures, and people. They will also learn to respect each other faiths and beliefs. 

“Exposure tours can significantly contribute to individual learning about diverse cultures and customs. Visiting new places and immersing oneself in different cultures can also catalyze creativity and innovation,” he said.

Prof. Nath highlighted the objective of the Yuva Sangam initiative, aiming to connect youth from across India through sustained cultural exchange programs.

Institute’s Registrar Prof. Atikur Rahman said that exposure tours provide students with the opportunity to experience and understand different cultures firsthand.

“These tours often include visits to educational institutions, historical sites, and industries relevant to the students’ field of study. This hands-on learning experience complements classroom education, making theoretical knowledge more practical and applicable,” he said.

The government of India initiated a ‘Yuva Sangam’ programme launched under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) in early 2023.  Aimed to strengthen people-to-people connections and foster empathy between the youth of our nation.

In the first three phases, Yuva Sangam has witnessed an overwhelming response and widespread participation from all corners of India. In the past year, more than 3,000 youths and coordinators across India have participated in 69 tours organized under Yuva Sangam.

NIT Srinagar has been directed to collaborate with the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur (VNIT Nagpur) Maharashtra as a paired institution for this programme.

In the Yuva Sangam phase IV, the participants from the paired institutes will be exchanged under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) campaign of the Ministry of Education.

Under this exchange programme, participants will get the opportunity for multi-dimensional exposure under five broad areas 5 Ps i.e. Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology), and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).