Imphal, Mar 28 (PTI) Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Friday said national integration tours play a crucial role in nation-building by fostering mutual respect, breaking stereotypes, and creating a generation that values inclusivity.

Speaking at the National Integration Tour Experience Sharing Programme 2025, Bhalla stressed the significance of such tours in shaping students' understanding of the country's diversity and noted that first-hand experiences of different cultures and people help instil a sense of unity and appreciation for India's vast cultural landscape, a Raj Bhavan statement said.

Also Read | Fake Paneer Used in Pizza, Burger? McDonald's and Domino's Refute Allegations After Influencer Apple Tiwari's Iodine Tincture Test Video Sparks Concerns.

He also emphasised that these initiatives play a crucial role in nation-building by fostering mutual respect, breaking stereotypes, and creating a generation that values inclusivity, it said.

Bhalla highlighted the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme, which aims to strengthen national unity by enhancing interaction and promoting mutual understanding between people of different states and Union territories through state/UT pairing.

Also Read | Ramadan 2025 Calendar: Sehri Time, Iftar Time Today for 27th Roza of Ramzan on March 28 in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Other Cities of India.

The governor also stressed the need for expanding similar programmes, encouraging a two-way exchange where students from across the country visit Manipur and other northeastern states. Strengthening these connections, he said, would deepen national integration and mutual understanding.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)