‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ revised to resolve problems of universities
   Date :23-Jan-2020
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bhara
 
 
By Ajay Mardikar :
 
Earlier, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat could not be implemented as the implementing agencies faced several problems, including availability of funds  
 
The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India has revised the activities under its ambitious Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) programme, announced by the Prime Minister on October 31, 2015, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Although the aims of the programme were noble, the implementation was very difficult. Under the programme cultural exchange programmes were planned between two states of different cultures through Youth Exchange programmes. The Higher Education Institutions were informed about the objectives and activities.
 
However, the EBSB could not be implemented, as the implementing agencies faced several problems, including availability of funds. The revised activities have been announced on December 31, 2019. Maharashtra has been paired with the State of Odisha under the programme. Great emphasis has been laid on involvement of Social Work Institutes in both the states.
 
All the bureau heads of All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), University Grants Commission (UGC), Co-ordinator of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) to communicate the revised activities to institutions under their administrative control. The pairing of institutions that have been already done will continue under the revised programme.
 
It has been reported that the activities like Student Exchange or Teacher Exchange could not be worked out owing to time and budget and other logistic constraints. The activities proposed at the institute level include celebrating EBSB Day, formation of EBSB Clubs, Celebrate EBSB Day, organising optional classes to teach language of the pairing state. the students are expected to at least learn alphabets, 100 sentences, five songs, 20m proverbs of the pairing state. Essays, drama, debate, cultural programme of the pairing states will help in understanding the language and culture.
 
Pledges on cleanliness, ban on single use plastic, water saving, national unit in the language of partner language should be understood. Maharashtra’s 13 universities and 11 universities from Odisha held discussion at Pune and signed Memorandum of Understanding last week. The universities were represented by the Nodal Officers of Universities, NSS officers and RUSA Nodal officers. RUSA has 64 Higher Education Institutes under its control. The exchange programme will be between colleges of same courses - like IIT from Maharashtra is paired with IIT of Odisha. Those involved in the activities have been directed to submit the report periodically. The problem of getting funds for the activities is still an unresolved issue. The time constraints has been limiting extra-curricular activities, after implementation of semester system at under-graduate level.