SHILLONG: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, a nationwide youth programme, was inaugurated in the state on Wednesday to celebrate unity in diversity.
WR Lyngdoh, education secretary, told the gathering after inaugurating Ek Bharat at Youth Hostel that Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed an MoU in Lucknow on October 5.
He said the main objective of the inter-state youth programme, titled ‘Reciprocal Inter State Youth Exchange programme’, “is to celebrate unity in diversity of our nation, to promote national integration and to showcase heritage, custom and tradition”.
The programme was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in partnership with department of education.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (one India, great India) on the 140th Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhhai Patel and consequently reaffirmed by Arun Jaitley in the capacity of Parliament in his budget speech for 2017.
Lyngdoh encouraged participants to learn Khasi and English languages during their 15-day stay in Shillong and to taste traditional Khasi food.
Under the Programme, Meghalaya along with its co-partner Arunachal Pradesh got paired with Uttar Pradesh. For this, Nehru Yuva Kendra, East Khasi Hills, organised the reciprocal programme along with its partner state of Uttar Pradesh.
Closely guided and monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office, the exchange programme will cover a wide range of areas such as youth, students, science and technology, cultural flora, economic activities and social field.
