Yuva Sangam Phase-IV: Director flags-off students at NIT Srinagar

45 students selected from J&K, Ladakh, will visit Maharashtra

Srinagar, May 04: Director National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, along with Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Atikur Rahman Saturday flagged off students for weeklong exposure tour as part of phase-IV of Yuva Sangam 2024.

Dean Planning and Development, Dr. Yashwant Mehta, Estates Officer Dr. Karthik Dasari, Dr Janani L and other teaching and non-teaching staff members were present on the occasion.

Around 45 students from various institutions across 22 districts in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were chosen to participate in Yuva Sangam’ programme launched under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB). Apart from that five student volunteers accompanying the group.

On the occasion, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath encouraged students to embrace the rich diversity of Indian cultures. He shared his own experiences of educational tours during his student days and emphasized the importance of this opportunity for learning.

“This is your chance to explore and grow. Tomorrow, you could be leaders, and this experience will shape you. Normally leader emerges in three ways, one is election, selection and domination. It means you are being selected and you are leaders,” he said.

Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Atikur Rahman said exposure tours teach us about different cultures and traditions. It helps us value and respect diversity, showing us how it affects people’s lives. When we visit new places and experience different cultures, it sparks creativity and new ideas,” he added.

“Yuva Sangam’ is aimed to strengthen people-to-people connections and foster empathy between the youth of our nation.NIT Srinagar will keep support such efforts in future also,” Prof. Rahman said.

The students will visit Maharashtra and during the tour, Food, travel, and accommodation charges for the students will be borne by the host institutes.

Earlier on Friday, a comprehensive orientation program was conducted for the participating students, providing them with essential information and guidance to prepare for the upcoming weeklong exposure tour. The event was graced by Director NIT Srinagar, Registrar and other dignitaries.

Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Rout, the Nodal officer for EBSB, also provided an overview of the selection process. He mentioned that every district in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has been included in the program.

As per official figures, NIT Srinagar received 1892 applications from the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Among them, 45 students were selected for the EBSB 2024 program and an additional 5 volunteers will accompany the selected students.

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

PR Officer of EBSB, Dr. Mohd Rafiq Teli said NIT Srinagar is the nodal institution for Phase IV for J&K and Ladhak UT. Out of total, 1892 candidates, 45 students were selected for exposure tour, he said.

NIT Srinagar is collaborating with 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).