Sunabeda: The Central University of Odisha (CUO), Koraput, held the valedictory programme of five-day ‘Students Exchange Programme’ under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB), a flagship programme of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), at Bhanja Mandap here on February 8.
The valedictory session was presided by Vice Chancellor, CUO, Prof I Ramabrahmam. Sports & Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera was the chief guest of the session and Pro Vice Chancellor, MGAHVV (Wardha), Chandrakanta Ragit was the guest of honour.
As part of the programme, 52 students of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Viswavidyalaya, Wardha, the paired institution of CUO, along with faculty members, visited the intitute from February 4 to 8.
The CUO carried out different programmes like lectures, educational tours, presentations, village visit and NSS activity to expose the students from Maharashtra to various aspects of Odia culture & society.
Prof I Ramabrahmam explained the principles of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and laid down the importance of the programme and the partnership of the two universities in Koraput and Wardha. He also gave a vision of the future course of the action plan that the CUO intends to follow for the development of education.
Prof Chandrakanta Ragit expressed his optimism over the pairing of CUO with MGAHVV and hoped that through EBSB the partnership will give way to fruitful academic exercises.
The Minister said that ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ reaffirms the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which transcends beyond limitations of racial origins, religious restrictions and national boundaries.
He also stated that the idea of a sustained and structured cultural connect between denizens of different regions was mooted to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Ballavbhai Patel. He expressed hope that India can move forward as a nation only through unity in diversity and EBSB will bring about cultural and regional integration.
The faculty members from MGAHVV were felicitated by the Vice Chancellor at the ceremony. The session was followed by a cultural function, organized by a team of faculty, where students of both CUO and MGAHVV showcased their cultures.
Koraput Collector Madhusudan Mishra and NALCO Executive Director R S Das were the other distinguished guests at the ceremony.