The stage is all set for Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) Phase 2 with the launch of its registration portal by IIT Madras on Nov.27. Interested persons from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry can apply on the KTS portal – www.kashitamil.iitm.ac.in., by Dec.8.
The second edition of this Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme is proposed to be held from Dec.17 to 30. This programme proposes to take forward the objective of reviving the living bonds between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu – two important centres of learning and culture in ancient India – by facilitating people-to-people connect across different walks of life.
In Phase 2 of KTS, it is proposed that around 1,400 people from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will travel by train to Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya for an eight-day immersive tour, including the travel time. They will be divided into seven groups of around 200 each, comprising students, teachers, farmers, artisans, traders and businessmen besides religious, writers, professionals. Each group will be named after a sacred river such as Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Sindhu, Narmada, Godavari and Cauvery.
The delegates will be taken to visit places of historical, tourist and religious interest and interact with people of Uttar Pradesh from their domains of work. The KTS 2.0 would have a crisper format with emphasis on awareness generation and outreach, people-to-people connect and cultural immersion.
The focus would be on increased engagement and interaction with local counterparts (weavers, artisans, artists, entrepreneurs, writers, etc.) to get insights into best practices, enhance learning and cross pollination of ideas.
The selection of delegates will be done by a selection committee constituted for the purpose. Post the selection, the delegates will be communicated for further process.
The Union Ministry of Education, Government of India, will be the nodal Ministry for the programme with participation from Ministries of Culture including ASI , Railways including IRCTC, Tourism, Textiles, Food Processing (ODOP), MSME, I&B, SD&E, and the departments concerned in the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
