Punjab youth in awe of AP

Visakhapatnam: A 50-member Punjab youth, who toured Andhra Pradesh for 15 days, expressed their happiness and said that it was a highly beneficial and memorable experience. 

They relished Andhra cuisine and in awe of traditions, customs and hospitality of the people. They heaped praises on the government for its efforts taken up towards women’s empowerment, skill development, efforts to make villages open defecation-free (ODF) and particularly about the tourism development initiatives have been praised by the Punjab youth. ‘Upma pesarattu’ and idly with several varieties of chutneys tickle the taste buds of the youth.

A 15-day Inter-State Youth Exchange programme ‘Ek Bharat Shreestha Bharat’ between the Punjab and Andhra Pradesh concluded here on Wednesday. During the programme, the Punjab youth shared their culture, customs and traditions with the Andhra Pradesh youth.

Interacting with the media here on Wednesday, Amandeep Kaur, a graduate, who participated in the programme, said, “Vizag is a beautiful city and one can learn many things here. Wearing of sarees in Andhra style is superb. ‘Dhimsa’, the tribal dance, is also one of unique features of the state. Telugu is a beautiful language and the people here are very nice and cooperative. Andhra tiffins ‘upma pesarattu’ and ‘idly’ are mouth-watering among several other recipes,”.

The youth of Punjab praised the women and said that the they participate actively in all societal and government programmes. “The Andhra Pradesh people are much concerned about the health care, especially child care. During our visit, we have observed that the locals of every village are working hard to make their village ODF. The skill development programmes to the educated youth is also good. We will also urge the Punjab government to start similar initiative in Punjab”, said National Youth Volunteer Jagaman Deep Singh from Rupnagar district.

He said that they observed that the people of Andhra Pradesh were utilising natural resources, whereas in Punjab, most of the families survive on only cultivation. “In Punjab, after completion of the secondary school education, the youth will move to Indian Army or become an artiste, but we have seen that the people of Andhra Pradesh are taking up various professions and venturing into  business,” another youth Guru Deep Singh opined.

By Phani Suni