GUWAHATI, March 2 - Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi called upon the youths to imbibe a pan-India outlook and contribute to the belief envisioned for creating �Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat�.
Speaking at a tribal youth exchange programme at the Don Bosco Institute, Kharghuli here today, Governor Mukhi called upon the participants to inculcate the habit of promoting unity in diversity and strengthen the edifice of India. He said, �We are Indian first and then we belong to any community.�
He lauded the voluntary organisation NSS for its dedication towards the growth and development of young people of India, especially the tribal population.
Altogether 300 NSS volunteers from the Northeast and 200 from other states participated in the programme.
The Governor also said that the present government has attached great importance to elevate the position of the tribal community socially, educationally and economically. A separate ministry has been formed to look after the affairs of the tribal communities. Substantial budgetary allocation has also been made for implementation of various schemes and programmes meant for these communities, he said.
Prof Mukhi further said that in order to protect the rights, cultures, rituals, etc., of the tribal communities, they should be educated first. Education should be made compulsory for all and it should be brought to their doorsteps. At present, five Ekalavya Model Residential Schools have been constructed and another 12 are in the pipeline in the State, he added.
While highlighting the importance of youth exchange programmes, the Governor hoped that this programme would sensitise the tribal youths to work towards unity in diversity. The programme would also provide an opportunity to the tribal youths to understand the cultural ethos, languages, lifestyles of people belonging to different states of the country, and, at the same time, highlight the socio-economic and cultural traits of their own states before others.
The Governor also urged the youths to mingle with one another and learn from each other. True to the motto of NSS, he asked the participants to be ambassadors of friendship and universal brotherhood.
The programme was attended by Regional Director of NSS Dipak Kumar, State Chief Information Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh Dr Joram Begi, Executive Director of Don Bosco Institute Father PD John, Vice-Provincial Father Joseph Teron and NSS volunteers along with a host of other dignitaries.
