Bhubaneswar, May 29: Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati has interacted with the student delegation at the Lok Bhavan here.
For the context, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela is conducting Yuva Sangam Phase VI. As part of the programme, as many as 39 students from Gujarat under the Government of India’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, is now on an impressive exposure tour to Odisha.The six-day immersive exposure programme which began on May 25 will conclude on May 30.
The programme is aimed at strengthening cultural understanding, and knowledge exchange among youth.
On May 25, NIT Rourkela welcomed 39 student delegates from Gujarat and five coordinators from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad under Yuva Sangam Phase VI. NIT Rourkela, the nodal institution from Odisha is in collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad, the nodal institution representing Gujarat.
During the five-day journey across Odisha, the Gujarat delegates experienced a series of educational and cultural visits organised by NIT Rourkela. On Day 2, the delegation visited the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, witnessing Odisha’s sporting excellence and its contribution towards promoting hockey at the national and international level. They also visited Rourkela Steel Plant to gain insights into Odisha’s industrial growth and the steel manufacturing process.
On the third day of the visit on May 27, the delegates visited Lok Bhavan Bhubaneswar and interacted with Governor Kambhampati.
Addressing the delegates, Governor said, “Programmes like Yuva Sangam play an important role in strengthening emotional bonds and national integration among the younger generation. I am Delighted to interact with Yuva Sangam students from Gujarat visiting Odisha. Their engaging discussions on sustainability, digital innovation, electric mobility, cultural exchange, and India’s development journey were truly inspiring.”
He further encouraged the youth to embrace self-reliance, environmental responsibility, and cultural understanding while becoming ambassadors of unity in diversity.
Later, the participants undertook a heritage tour to the sacred Jagannath Temple and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Konark Sun Temple.
On the fourthday on May 28, the participants travelled to the Kutra block of Sundargarh district, where they visited Telighana village and interacted with the Kisan Sathi Foundation to understand natural farming methods, sustainable rural livelihoods, and community-based development initiatives.
The students also participated in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation drive within the farm premises. The interaction provided the delegates with firsthand exposure to tribal culture, traditional food habits, local lifestyle, and rural Odisha’s social fabric.
The team of the Kisan Sathi Foundation, including Founder Amulya Pratap Lakra, Secretary Deepak Minz, and mentor Jojo Sunil Kumar, along with the Sarpanch and villagers of Telighana, warmly hosted the students during the visit. The visit concluded with an authentic local lunch prepared using organic farm products, offering them a taste of Odisha’s traditional rural cuisine. It was then followed by vibrant folk performances, interaction with local artists, and a joyful Garba involving both Gujarat delegates and local youth, reflecting the spirit of national integration through culture.
On the fifth day on May 29, the delegation travelled to Sambalpur, where they visited the revered Maa Samaleswari Temple and the iconic Hirakud Dam, one of the longest earthen dams in the world. The students also interacted with artisans and weaving communities of Baijamunda village to understand Odisha’s renowned handloom and handicraft traditions, particularly the craftsmanship associated with Sambalpuri textiles and rural artisan livelihoods.
The programme will conclude on Saturday, with a farewell ceremony and interaction session in the presence of distinguished guests and representatives from the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), where the participants will share their reflections and experiences from the exchange programme.
Following the completion of the Odisha visit under the programme, students from Odisha will begin their exposure visit to Gujarat on May 30, as part of this reciprocal youth exchange initiative.
