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Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Polity & Governance
  • Published
    13th Feb, 2020
  • Context

    • An 18 day long focused Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign gets underway from 10th Feb, 2020, across the country.
    • Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Campaign launched to build a cultural connect between different regions.
  • What is Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan?

    • “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Subsequently, the Finance Minister announced the initiative in his Budget Speech for 2016-17.
    • Through this innovative measure, the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different States & UTs will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the States, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India.
    • Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat is organised to celebrate the Unity in Diversity of our nation and promote the spirit of national integration through engagement between all states and union territories.
  • Who organises Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan?

    • The campaign is being organised by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the 18 day long programme will continue till 28th of this month.
  • Why is it organised?

    • The broad objectives of the initiative are as follows:-
      • To CELEBRATE the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our Country;
      • PROMOTE the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States;
      • To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity;
      • TO ESTABLISH long-term engagements and
      • TO CREATE an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences.
  • How will it be implemented?

    • All States and UTs will be covered under the programme.
    • There will be pairing of States/UTs at national level and these pairings will be in effect for one year, or till the next round of pairings.
    • The State/UT level pairings would be utilized for state level activities. District level pairings would be independent of the State level pairings.
    • During this period, they carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, and tourism. The paired states and union territories sign MoUs with each other, delineating a set of activities that they would carry out.
    • The activity will be very useful to link various States and Districts in annual programmes that will connect people through exchanges in areas of culture, tourism, language, education trade etc. and citizens will be able to experience the cultural diversity of a much larger number of States/UTs while realising that India is one.
  • Where is it happening?

    • The EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Engagement Matrix between States and UTs till June 2020 would be as follows:
      • Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Tamil Nadu
      • Punjab: Andhra Pradesh
      • Himachal Pradesh: Kerala
      • Uttarakhand: Karnataka
      • Haryana: Telangana
      • Rajasthan: Assam
      • Gujarat: Chhattisgarh
      • Maharashtra: Odisha
      • Goa: Jharkhand
      • Delhi: Sikkim
      • Madhya Pradesh: Manipur& Nagaland
      • Uttar Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh& Meghalaya
      • Bihar: Tripura & Mizoram
      • Chandigarh: Dadra & Nagar Haveli
      • Puducherry: Daman & Diu
      • Lakshadweep: Andaman & Nicobar
Quick Recap
  1. Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat Abhiyan—by Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
  2. Launched on the occasion of 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31st October, 2015.
  3. States/UTs are paired with each other in this programme.
  4. District level pairings would be independent of the State level pairings.

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