Konark: The Nehru Yuva Kendra, Puri, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, organized a five-day Inter-State Youth Exchange Camp at the Yatri Nivas in Konark from February 28 to March 4.
In this camp, 27 youth participants from various districts of Karnataka, aged between 15 to 29 years, took part in several activities. They gained knowledge from expert speakers about Odisha’s glorious history, art, culture, heritage, sculptures, and traditions. The participants also engaged in cultural programs, a visit to the Konark Sun Temple, witnessing the sunrise at Chandrabhaga Beach, and a beach cleaning drive.
Additionally, they visited Friends Club, a state-level award-winning institution in Shiripur, Gop Block. As part of the program, the participants conducted a social survey at a Telugu settlement near Chandrabhaga, studying the social and economic conditions of the local fishing community.
The closing ceremony of this Youth Exchange Program was attended by several dignitaries. Gop Tahsildar Anil Kumar Mahanti was the chief guest, while the keynote speaker was Shivaji Murali Dhar Kharat, the State Director of the Nehru Yuva Kendra organization. They emphasized the role of youth in nation-building and the goal of a developed India by 2047.
The event was also graced by notable guests, including Captain Vinay Bhushan Mahanti, Amiya Kumar Sethi, Konark Revenue Officer Purna Chandra Sethi, Nehru Yuva Kendra Kandhamal District Youth Officer Navaneet Kumar, Puri District Youth Officer Anurag Kumar, Program Officer Dr. Ashok Kumar Behera, social worker Ramakrishna Mahanti, and others.
This youth exchange celebration was successfully conducted under the leadership of state award-winning volunteer Niranjan Tripathi, national youth volunteer Krishna Chandra Sahu, and a team of five coordinators.