Hyderabad: Universities will now have to start sending their students to other states as part of cultural exchange programmes designed to boost national integrity. The new plan is being called Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat.
The University Grants Commission sent out notices to the vice chancellors of all the universities in the country on Thursday asking them to implement various initiatives under the Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat plan. As part of the programme, a ‘partner state’ will be assigned by the central government
The UGC said that universities must send their students for adventure camps or on cycling and historical tours to the states with which they have been paired with.
The UGC added that the universities must organise programmes such as skits, musical events etc. to as part of the cultural exchange. The students will be required to perform at events for audience from the partner state. As part of the plan, universities have been told to display a word or a saying — daily — in the language of the paired state.
This is not the first initiative by the BJP-led government that is being promoted by the UGC and which is aimed at promoting a sense of integration and patriotism amongst students.
Earlier this year, the UGC had sent notices to universities to observe a Freedom Fortnight from August 9 to 23 — to celebrate the 70th year of independence. The advisory also carried with it a list of activities to be conducted during the fortnight by the universities.
Recently the UGC had also sent notices to all universities to observe the Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day) on October 31 — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary — by organising an oath-taking ceremoney and other activities.
