Yuva Sangam Phase VI: NIT Rourkela to Facilitate Odisha Youth Exchange with Gujarat and Western Union Territories!
Yuva Sangam – Phase VI is a flagship youth exchange programme under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative aimed at strengthening emotional bonds and mutual understanding among young citizens across States and Union Territories. The National Institute of Technology Rourkela has been designated as the 'Nodal Institution' from Odisha for this phase and will coordinate the programme in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, which is serving as the nodal institution for Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. Prof. Winny Routray, presently serving as Assistant Professor at NIT Rourkela, is the Nodal Officer from Odisha for Yuva Sangam Phase VI.
Yuva Sangam campaign, by the Department of Higher Education, MoE, GoI, offers a unique opportunity for youth aged 18–30 years to participate in a 5–7 day immersive educational and cultural exchange programme. Participants will gain first-hand exposure to the rich heritage, traditions, development initiatives, and technological advancements of the partner state, while engaging with local communities and premier institutions. The exposure aims to broaden their perspectives, develop meaningful connections, and represent the spirit and cultural richness of their State on a national stage.
Notably, in 2023, NIT Rourkela was part of the pilot phase of Yuva Sangam, facilitating an exchange between Odisha and Sikkim, which highlighted the programme’s role in promoting experiential learning and cultural understanding among youth.
Structured around five thematic pillars, i) Paryatan (Tourism), ii) Parampara (Traditions and Culture), iii) Pragati (Development and Governance), iv) Paraspar Sampark (People-to-People Connect), and v) Prodyogiki (Technology and Innovation), the initiative provides participants with first-hand exposure to cultural heritage, governance practices, technological ecosystems, and grassroots-level engagement, in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
