Srinagar, Mar 15: National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Wednesday organised a grand reception for the 16 students, who were on a weeklong exposure tour to Assam as part of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB), a pilot initiative by Government of India.
IIT Jammu was the Nodal Higher Education Institution for Jammu and Kashmir, while IIT Guwahati was Paired Institution (for the pilot tour).
On the occasion, students were received by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Sehgal, Dean R&C Prof. MF Wani, Registrar Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari, Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Abdul Liman and other coordinators accorded a warm reception to returnees on the campus.
While welcoming students on campus, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. (Dr) Prof. Sehgal said such tours are important for students as they provide exposure to a new environment, culture, and people.
“Exposure tours can help individuals learn about different cultures and customs. It helps them appreciate and respect diversity and understand how it influences people’s lives. Visiting new places and experiencing different cultures can stimulate creativity and innovation,” he said.
Prof. Sehgal also expressed gratitude to Director IIT Jammu Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur and Prof. Manoj Kumar Aggarwal for their support and coordination during the entire exposure tour.
In his message, Director IIT Jammu, Prof. Gaur said that 50 students from various parts of J&K were shortlisted by IIT Jammu to explore Assam. He said the aim of the Yuva Sangam initiative was to connect youth from all over India through sustained cultural exchange programmes, he said.
“The programme was designed to provide an immersive educational experience around tradition, tourism, development, enterprise, and people-to-people connection. IIT Jammu will continue to support such initiatives in the region,” Prof. Gaur said.
On the occasion, Dean R&C Prof. MF Wani said that exposure tours are an essential part of the education system. It helps students to gain practical knowledge, develop social and interpersonal skills, and broaden their horizons, he said.
“Exposure cum education tours help students to learn about different cultures and customs. It helps them appreciate and respect diversity and understand the lives of people in the country,” he said.
Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Syed Kaiser Bukhari said that exposure tours encourage social interaction and communication. It helps students to develop interpersonal skills, such as teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Prof. Bukhari said such exposure will benefit students in a long way and help them to explore various cultures and diversities. He also congratulated returning students and stated that Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is the best way to learn and enhance knowledge.
In his message, Prof. Manoj Kumar Aggarwal said such programs play a vital role in promoting global understanding, building relationships, and fostering personal and professional development.
“EKSB program was aimed to connect students to interact and communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Such programs help them to develop intercultural communication skills, which are becoming increasingly important in today’s globalized world,” he said.
Dr. Ranjeet Kumar Rout, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering was the Nodal officer. Other coordinators of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) include Dr. Vijay Kumar, Dr. Mukund Dutt Sharma, Dr. Omkar Singh and Dr. Mohsin Khan were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Ranjeet said that 121 students had registered for the Yuva Sangam Portal and 16 were selected. During the tour, students visited IIT Guwahati, Raj Bhavan at Kharghuli Hills, workshops, interactions and attended various cultural programs in Assam.
During the visit, students were provided multi-dimensional exposure under five broad areas – Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogik (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).
