In the wake of inadequate educational opportunities for the youth in the North-Eastern states of the country, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today offered to provide free quality higher education facilities to the deserving bright but underprivileged students hailing from North-Eastern states in the state universities. An announcement in this effect was made by Mr. Badal during a meeting with a delegation of 27 students from North-Eastern states of Arunachal, Mizoram and Assam, who were on their visit to Punjab under a Cultural Exchange program - ‘Students Experience in Inter State Living’ (SEIL), being organised by ‘Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’ (ABVP). This program was regularly organized since 1966 to acquaint our youngsters with the perse and rich cultural of our motherland. Mr. Badal asked his Special Principal Secretary, Mr. KJS Cheema to chalk out the modalities for arranging some seats in the private universities of Punjab for the students of these North-Eastern states to provide a level playing field to them to face the challenges and compete in the modern world.Lauding the efforts of ABVP in organising this unique SEIL programme with a slogan ‘My Home is India’ (MHI) under which students visits other parts of the country and explore India through learning different cultures, religions and rituals during their brief stay with particular families, Mr. Badal said that our country was known for its unity in persity and to further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood the ABVP should also initiate a similar program for the farmers and other people of different walks of the life. He assured of all possible support and help for this endeavour, added Mr. BadalOn this occasion All India General Secretary ABVP Mr. Umesh Diwan expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his goodwill gesture to provide higher educational opportunities for the North-Eastern youth. He also informed about various other activities of the ABVP being carried out to aware the people regarding the regional and national issues to clear misconceptions from their minds that were creating regionalism in our country.
Prominent amongst those who were present on the occasion included Industry Minister Mr. Anil Joshi, Political Adviser to the Chief Minister Mr. Kamal Sharma, Former Minister Punjab Mr. Tikshan Sood, Commissioner RTI Commission Punjab Mr. Surinder Awasthi, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. K.J.S. Cheema, Member Punjab State Human Rights Commission Mr. B.S. Thakur, President ABVP Punjab Dr. Krishan Gopal and organising Secretary SEIL Mr. Manoj Kumar besides, other members of ABVP.