Watan Ko Jano: PM Modi Engages with J&K Youth for Cultural Exchange

Watan Ko Jano Programme Empowering Youth from Jammu and Kashmir through Cultural Exchange

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently engaged with a group of 250 students from Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi, marking the official launch of the ‘Watan Ko Jano’ Youth Exchange program. This initiative, which is designed to foster cultural exchange and understanding, sees the students embarking on a transformative 12-day journey across key destinations such as Delhi, Ajmer, and Jaipur. The goal is to provide the youth with the opportunity to explore India’s vast cultural diversity and to strengthen the bonds between different regions of the country.

The ‘Watan Ko Jano’ program was launched with great enthusiasm by Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, who flagged off the students alongside ten coordinators and caretakers. The event marked the beginning of this collaborative initiative, orchestrated by the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council in partnership with the Union Home Ministry. The program is a response to the evolving needs of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth and aims to provide enriching experiences that would broaden their perspectives and encourage national integration.

Supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Government’s Kashmir Cell, and the J&K State Rehabilitation Council’s Social Welfare Department, this program offers students an array of leisure activities that aim to introduce them to the rich cultural, social, and historical landscape of India. Special focus is placed on involving young individuals from Jammu and Kashmir who have been affected by militancy or are residents of social welfare facilities such as Parish Homes and Palash.

The primary objective of the Watan Ko Jano program is to give the youth from Jammu and Kashmir exposure to the national fabric of India, offering them firsthand experience of its diverse traditions, festivals, and social customs. The program is particularly timely, following the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, which saw the region’s transition into a Union Territory. This significant change is emblematic of the region’s new integration with the rest of India, governed under the same rules and regulations as any other state.

By fostering cultural exchanges like this, the Watan Ko Jano initiative serves as a bridge, helping the youth of Jammu and Kashmir understand and appreciate the broader scope of Indian society, while contributing to national unity. It is a step toward healing, empowerment, and the creation of a more inclusive future where every citizen, regardless of their background or region, feels a sense of belonging and pride in the shared identity of India.