Biren flags off Yuva Sangam tour

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Monday flagged off the “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat (EBSB)” Yuva Sangam tour of the Manipuri students’ team to Nagpur Maharashtra from the chief minister’s secretariat,  here Speaking to the young students who are taking part in the tour, the chief minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a One India, United India, Strong India is being encouraged.

Stressing on the need for people from other regions to know and understand the people of North East and vice versa, Biren said, “We are facing racial discrimination due to lack of communication and interaction. This is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is encouraging Ek Bharat, Shresta Bharat for a united and strong India.”

Manipuris are regarded for discipline, attitude towards women and children, culture, Biren said and asked the students to maintain the discipline and cleanliness when they go outside the state.

“It is unfortunate that we seem to have created a vacuum in the Higher Education sector due to disturbances like bandhs, blockades, strikes in the past. But today we are trying hard to fill the gap by implementing schemes like the School Fagathansi,” he said.

The government is going to start the College Fagathansi to identify colleges lagging teachers, infrastructure, etc, he added.

Provision for coaching classes for technical education has also been included from this year, he said.

“You are the future, whatever the government is doing is for you,” Biren told the young students wishing them all the very best for their future.

Minister of state for Education Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said this is a good opportunity for the young students. He urged the students to project their best behavior, expose the very best of Manipur and to learn the best of the host State during the tour.

He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using the unity in diversity as a powerful force to make a strong India and he has confidence in the youth in creating a united and strong India.

Education minister Th. Basanta Singh said it is an important programme taken up to strengthen unity and oneness in the country.

Telling the young students to try and project a positive image of Manipur, the minister said the students should always be the best of themselves, be disciplined, show character and be careful.

A total of thirty students representing various districts and institutions and three faculty members from IIIT-Manipur, who will accompany the students, are travelling to Nagpur, Maharashtra as a first batch and will tour in the state of Maharashtra from February 20 to 26.

IIIT – Manipur is coordinating the programme in association with IIIT-Nagpur. It’s a youth exchange program where 70 students with five faculties will also be visiting Imphal on February 27 and will tour in Manipur till March 3.