SHILLONG: As part of the nationwide youth programme, “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an inter-state youth exchange programme, was inaugurated by in the state by WR Lyngdoh, IAS, secretary, Education department at Youth Hostel on Wednesday.
Speaking at the function, Lyngdoh informed that the state of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 5, 2017 in Lucknow.
“Main objective of the exchange programme is to celebrate unity in diversity of our nation, to promote national integration and to showcase heritage, custom and tradition,” he said.
The nationwide youth programme organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, “Reciprocal Inter State Youth Exchange programme”, under “Ek Bharat shreshtha Bharat”.
The programme of NYKS, Shillong was done in partnership with department of Education, government of Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh encouraged the participants of the youth exchange programme to learn Khasi, English language during their 15 days stay in Shillong and to taste traditional Khasi food.
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (one India, great India), was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 140th Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhhai Patel and consequently further reaffirmed by Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister in the Parliament in his budget speech for 2017.
Under the Programme, Meghalaya along with its co-partner Arunachal Pradesh got paired with Uttar Pradesh. For this, Nehru Yuva Kendra, East Khasi Hills District, organised a 15 days’ reciprocal inter-state youth exchange programme along with its partner state of Uttar Pradesh.
Closely guided and monitored by PMO throughout the nation, the exchange will cover a wide range of areas such as youth, students, science and technology, cultural flora, economic activities, social field etc.