Rourkela/Bhubaneswar: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela is successfully conducting Yuva Sangam Phase VI under the Government of India’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, hosting student delegates from Gujarat for a six-day immersive cultural and educational exchange programme from May 25 to May 30.
As part of the initiative, NIT Rourkela, the nodal institution from Odisha, welcomed 39 student delegates and five coordinators from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, the nodal institution representing Gujarat.
The programme aims to strengthen cultural understanding, foster emotional integration, and promote knowledge exchange among youth from different parts of the country.
During their stay in Odisha, the delegates participated in a series of educational, industrial, cultural, and heritage visits curated by NIT Rourkela.
On the second day of the programme, the students visited the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, where they learned about Odisha’s contribution to the promotion of hockey at national and international levels. The delegates also toured the Rourkela Steel Plant to gain insights into the state’s industrial growth and steel manufacturing process.
On Day 3, the participants visited Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar and interacted with Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said programmes like Yuva Sangam play an important role in strengthening emotional bonds and national integration among the younger generation.
He said the discussions with students on sustainability, digital innovation, electric mobility, cultural exchange, and India’s development journey were inspiring. He also encouraged the youth to embrace self-reliance, environmental responsibility, and cultural understanding while becoming ambassadors of unity in diversity.
The delegates later visited the Jagannath Temple and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Konark Sun Temple as part of a heritage tour.
On Day 4, the participants travelled to Telighana village in Kutra block of Sundargarh district, where they interacted with the Kisan Sathi Foundation to understand natural farming practices, sustainable rural livelihoods, and community-based development initiatives.
The students also participated in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation drive and experienced tribal culture, traditional food habits, and rural lifestyles in Odisha.
The visiting delegation was hosted by Kisan Sathi Foundation founder Amulya Pratap Lakra, secretary Deepak Minz, mentor Jojo Sunil Kumar, local villagers, and the village Sarpanch.
The visit concluded with a traditional organic lunch and cultural interactions featuring folk performances and a Garba dance involving Gujarat delegates and local youth, reflecting the spirit of national integration through culture.
On Day 5, the delegation visited Sambalpur, where they offered prayers at the Maa Samaleswari Temple and toured the Hirakud Dam. The students also interacted with artisans and weaving communities in Baijamunda village to understand Odisha’s handloom and handicraft traditions, particularly Sambalpuri textiles.
The programme will conclude on May 30 with a farewell ceremony and interaction session in the presence of distinguished guests and representatives from the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), during which participants will share their experiences from the exchange programme.
Following the completion of the Odisha leg of the programme, students from Odisha will begin their reciprocal exposure visit to Gujarat on May 30 as part of the nationwide youth exchange initiative.
