The Hindu : New Delhi News : Arming young India with values and mission

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Saturday, Feb 16, 2008
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New Delhi

Arming young India with values and mission

Madhur Tankha

Youngsters from different States across the country participate in a programme in the Capital

Programme aims at increasing friendship among young people
It discussed role of the youth in maintaining national unity

NEW DELHI: To strengthen the bonds of friendship among youngsters from various States, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan along with the Union Home Ministry organised a Jammu and Kashmir Reciprocal Cultural Youth Exchange Programme at Raj Ghat here on Thursday.

“Utsav-e-Hind” saw a seminar and thought-provoking discussion on the “Role of youth in national unity” that was organised to sensitise the young impressionable minds about issues affecting Generation X.

The objective of the programme was to thank families who had hosted the participants of the Jammu and Kashmir exchange programme. It was also intended to provide an opportunity to youngsters from various parts of the country to visit the State for a week gathering first-hand knowledge of Kashmiri culture.

The youth from Gangtok (Sikkim), South Goa (Goa), Udaipur and Ajmer (Rajasthan), Puri (Orissa), East Khasi Hills (Meghalaya), Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Lucknow (UP) and other places reached Jammu on February 1. After a brief training and acclimatisation session at Jammu, they were taken for a home stay programme in various places across the State.

The participants got a chance to interact with local communities, youth clubs and “Mahila Mandals” affiliated with the Nehru Yuva Kendras. Through these meetings, the youngsters were able to understand the State’s socio-economic and political scenario.

They also got an opportunity to visit places of religious, historic and cultural significance. They visited Jammu and other places of interest including the Rasoolpur international border. They also attended various indoor sessions devoted to national unity and integration.

Early on Thursday morning, the youths visited Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Pratibha Patil, where Union Minister for Youth Affairs, Sports and Panchayati Raj Mani Shankar Aiyar was also present.

On Friday, the youngsters visited historic places and the Delhi Metro. They will proceed to their respective states on Saturday.

The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan aspires to bring the village youngsters into the national mainstream.

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