Union Minister of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya Scindia, today virtually interacted with the 12th Batch of the ongoing Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme in Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing the participating students, the Minister said that the programme embodies the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He added that the programme created a meaningful confluence of ideas, cultures, and aspirations between the Northeast and the rest of the country. Describing the eight Northeastern states as the Ashtalakshmi, Mr Scindia encouraged students to expand their understanding of the region’s languages, traditions and developmental potential. Speaking about tourism in Northeast India, the Minister underscored its immense potential for economic growth and employment generation, saying that the region possesses vast and untapped tourism prospects.

The Ashtalakshmi Darshan is a flagship Youth Exchange Programme organised and funded by the Ministry to deepen national integration and strengthen bonds among young people from diverse regions of the country. The 14-day programme includes academic sessions, heritage visits, cultural exchanges, and community interactions.