National Service Scheme (NSS)
National Service Scheme, popularly known as NSS was launched in 1969-the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi in 37 Universities involving 40,000 students with primary focus on the Personality Development of the student volunteers through service to the community. Today, NSS has more than 3.4. million volunteers on its roll spread over 301 Universities and 42 (+2) Senior Secondary Councils and Directorate of Technical Education all over the country. Since its inception more than 3.75 crore students from various institutions of higher learning have been benefitted out of this scheme. The “Regular Activities” and Special Camping Programmes” are the two main components of NSS programmes. During the two year volunteer-ship, the volunteers devote 240 hours under Regular activities. This includes 20 hours of general orientation regarding NSS and the mode of work they have to do in their volunteer-ship. Out of the remaining 220 hours, 30 hours are given for the campus development and rest 190 hours for the services in the community in various areas as per the need and priority. Presently, we have 26,202 villages/urban slums adopted for this purpose. Every volunteer has to attend one special camping programme to become eligible for getting the NSS Certificate issued by the Universities and +2 councils. This residential camp is of 7 days duration and is organized in the community by the NSS units based on specific themes which keep on changing from time to time.NSS, over the years has made outstanding contributions in the field of Mass Literacy, Environment Preservation, Waste Land development, Watershed Management, Health Education, Community Development, Disaster Management, Adolescent Health Development, HIV/AIDs Awareness, Drive against Social evils, Homes for the homeless, Mass forestation drives, Communal and Social Harmony etc. NSS Volunteers have always come to theforefront to extend voluntary service in natural calamities like drought, flood, Tsunami, cyclone and earthquake etc. As part of environment conservation and enrichment project, more than 37, 06,075 saplings were planted throughout the nation by the NSS volunteers under regular activities.
The Motto
The motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is: ‘NOT ME BUT YOU’. This reflects the essence of democratic living and upholds the need for selfless service and appreciation of the other person’s point of view and also to show consideration for fellow human beings. It underlines that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of society on the whole. Therefore, it should be the aim of the NSS to demonstrate this motto in its day-to-day programme
NSS Symbol
The symbol of the National Service Scheme is based on the ‘Rath’ wheel of the Konark Sun Temple situated in Orissa. These giant wheels of the Sun Temple portray the cycle of creation, preservation and release, and signify the movement in life across time and space. The design of the symbol, a simplified form of the Sun-chariot wheel primarily depicts movement. The wheel signifies the progressive cycle of life. It stands for continuity as well as change and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social transformation and upliftment.
NSS Badge
The NSS symbol is embossed on the NSS badge. The NSS volunteers wear it while undertaking any programme of community service. The Konark wheel in the symbol has eight bars which represent the 24 hours of the day. Hence, the badge reminds the wearer to be in readiness for service of the nation round the clock i.e. for 24 hours. The red colour in the badge indicates that the NSS volunteers are full of blood i.e. lively, active, energetic and full of high spirit. The navy blue colour indicates the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.
NSS Day
NSS was formally launched on 24th September, 1969, the birth centenary year of the Father of the Nation. Therefore, 24 September is celebrated every year as NSS Day with appropriate programmes and activities.
Orientation of NSS volunteers:
To get the NSS volunteers acquainted with the basics of NSS programmes, 20 hours are allocated for their orientation through lectures, discussions, field visits and audio-visuals etc.
Campus Work:
-
The NSS volunteers may be involved in the projects undertaken for the benefit of the institution and students concerned. Such projects cover development of play grounds, laying of gardens, tree plantation in the premises, awareness programmes on drug-abuse, AIDS, population education etc. The NSS volunteers may work on campus projects for not exceeding 30 hours in a year;
-
The remaining 70 hours will be utilized for community service on the projects in adopted villages/urban slums independently or in collaboration with others in this field, as detailed below:
-
Institutional work: The students may be placed with selected voluntary organisations working for the welfare of women, children, aged and disabled outside the campus.
-
Rural Project: The rural projects generally include the working of NSS volunteers in adopted villages for eradication of illiteracy, watershed management and wasteland development, agricultural operations, health, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, mother and child care, family life education, gender justice, development of rural cooperatives, savings drives, construction of rural roads, campaign against social evils etc.
-
Urban Projects: In addition to rural projects other include adult education, welfare of slum dwellers, training in civil defence, traffic control, setting up first-aid posts, work in hospitals, orphanages, destitute home, environment, population education, drug, AIDS awareness, and income generation projects etc. Professional and technical institutions having NSS may have to design appropriate programmes for the community based on the needs.
-
Natural calamities & National Emergencies: The NSS units are expected to utilize the services of NSS volunteers at the time of natural calamities and national emergencies for mobilizing public support and rendering necessary assistance to the authorities in rescue, relief and rehabilitation. In such emergencies and calamities the Programme Officers are expected to take the initiative and offer the services of the NSS units and its volunteers to assist the administration.
-
National Days and Celebrations: The National Service Scheme programmes also include the celebration of National days. The purpose of such a provision is to celebrate such occasions in a befitting manner.
It is pertinent to mention here that NSS Volunteers have come forward with zeal to make all programmes a great success.
-
Enrolment of NSS Volunteers
At college/University level the NSS volunteers will be enrolled from the first and second year degree-class/semester students. Preference should be given to the students who have worked as NSS volunteers at undergraduate as well as +2 levels also.
-
Students belonging to minority communities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes should be encouraged to participate in NSS. They should be given due representation where more students desire to join NSS.
-
In co-educational colleges the girls should be motivated to join NSS.
-
The students from foreign countries studying in Indian universities should also be encouraged to join NSS so that they may share the experiences of national reconstruction and community work.
Theme of NSS
May 28, 2023
In the past the themes of the Special Camping Programmes have been 'Youth Against Famine', 'Youth Against Dirt and Disease', 'Youth for Rural Reconstruction', 'Youth for Eco-Development', 'Youth for Mass Literacy', 'Youth for National Integration & Social Harmony', 'Youth for Sustainable Development with special focus on Watershed Management and Wasteland Development
Notes on NSS
Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
- St.Francis of Assisi
