NIT Rourkela Flags Off Odisha Students for Gujarat Visit Under Yuva Sangam Programme

Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela on Saturday flagged off a delegation of 41 students from Odisha for an educational and cultural exposure visit to Gujarat under Yuva Sangam Phase VI, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) programme.

The flag-off ceremony was attended by NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao and Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak, who extended their best wishes to the students embarking on the exchange programme. The Gujarat delegation, which had completed a six-day immersive visit to Odisha, also departed along with the Odisha team.

Addressing the participants, Prof. Rao said the selected students would represent Odisha and carry the state’s rich cultural heritage, traditions and values to Gujarat. He noted that the programme offers a unique opportunity to understand diverse cultures, gain new experiences and build meaningful connections across regions.

He highlighted that only 41 students were selected from more than 2,500 applicants across Odisha, making it both a prestigious achievement and a significant responsibility.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarada Prasad Nayak shared the history of Rourkela and its development as one of India’s leading industrial townships. He encouraged the students to interact with local communities, learn from different cultures and contribute positively to society.

“Learn new things, meet new people and understand different ways of life. Observe society closely and dream of a future where you can contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development,” he said.

Prof. Rohan Dhiman also addressed the gathering, urging the students to act as ambassadors of Odisha and represent the state with dignity, responsibility and respect.

NIT Rourkela has been designated as the nodal institution for Odisha under Yuva Sangam Phase VI, while the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad is the nodal institution for Gujarat. The programme is being coordinated at NIT Rourkela under the guidance of Prof. Winny Routray, Nodal Officer for Yuva Sangam Odisha.

The Odisha delegation is accompanied by faculty coordinators Prof. Deepanjan Saha, Prof. Mohd Khalid Gul, Prof. Rashmi Achla Minz, Sports Officer C. Alagesan and Public Relations Officer Archana Gupta.

During their visit to Gujarat from May 30 to June 8, the students will visit several educational, cultural and historical landmarks, including IIM Ahmedabad, Adalaj Stepwell, Sabarmati Ashram, Amul Dairy and Indira Bridge. The delegation will also travel to Gandhinagar, where they are scheduled to interact with Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat.

The exposure visit aims to provide students with first-hand insights into Gujarat’s culture, traditions, governance models, innovation ecosystem and developmental initiatives. Through interactions with institutions, communities and local stakeholders, participants will gain a deeper understanding of India’s diversity and unity.

Yuva Sangam is a key youth exchange initiative under the Ministry of Education’s Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme, designed to promote experiential learning, cultural exchange and national integration by enabling young people to experience the social, cultural, technological and developmental landscape of different states and Union Territories.