Lok Sabha Question No. 3006 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-31
Subject: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NARAMALLI SIVAPRASAD, ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3006 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.12.2018 EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT

## 3006. DR. NARAMALLI SIVA PRASAD: SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  'Ek  Bharat  Shreshtha  Bharat'  scheme  to  promote cultural  traditions,  national  integrity  and  cultural  awareness  among  the  citizens  of  the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including  guidelines,  objectives,  salient  features  and  budget allocated for the scheme;
- (c) whether States have expressed their interest in being part of the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to bridge the cultural gap in the country and enhance interaction between people living in different States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to  (e):  Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  of  India  has  launched  an  initiative  Ek  Bharat Shreshtha  Bharat  (EBSB)  to  foster  national  integration  by  a  co-ordinated  mutual  engagement process  between  States,  Union  Territories,  Central  Ministries,  Educational  Institutions  and general public through linguistic, literary, cultural, sports, tourism and other forms of people-topeople    exchanges.  The  States/Union  Territories  have  been  grouped  in  16  pairs.  Detailed background of the scheme, its objectives, implementation strategy / methodology and the pairing of  theStates/Union  Territories  are  available  in  www.ekbharat.gov.in.  No  separate  budget allocation has been made for this scheme.

States have expressed their keen interest in being part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat scheme. They have signed MoUs with their paired States/ Union Territories and have been conducting various events covering a gamut of activities in the educational, cultural, geographical, social , tourism,  sports,  youth-related  activities    and  sharing  of  best  practices,  encompassing  a  wide range  of  subjects    under  the  programme  with  an  integrative  content  relating  to  their  paired States/Union  Territories.  Various  States/UTs  have  organized  more  than  hundred  Culturaland Literal Exchange programmes involving the people and artists of the paired States, organized a large number of Food Festivals, programmes such as National Integration Day, Run for Unity, Hornbill Festival, DeepotsavFestival, GeetaUtsav, Bharat Parv, Art Yatra, SadkalGujarat,KabirFestival,  Gir  Monsoon  Festival,  BastarMahotsav,Tawang  Festival,  Cherry Blossom  Festival  etc.  More  than  200  Higher  Educational  Institutions,  more  than  250  schools under  CBSE,  more  than  100  JawaharNavodayaVidyalayas,  more  than  40  Sainik  schools  and schools under KendriyaVidyalayaSangathan have organized more than 1000 programmes under Ek  Bharat  Shreshtha  Bharat.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been  organizing  various  Food  festivals through  Institutes  of  Hotel  Management.  It  has  also  organized  Bharat  Parv  and  ParyatanParv involving  the  various  State  Governments.  Other  Ministries  like  Ministry  of  Information  and Broadcasting,  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and  Sports,  Ministry  of  Culture  and  Ministry  of Railwayshave  also  been  conducting  a  large  number  of  programmes.  Department  of  School Education & Literacy has initiated BhashaSangam, a celebration of Linguistic Diversity which marks the appreciation of the unique symphonyof languages of our country from 20 th November to 21 st December, 2018.

A Group of Ministers headed by Minister of Human Resource Development periodically reviews the steps taken by the States/UTs and concerned Ministries/Departments to bridge the cultural gap in the country and enhance interaction between people living in different States.