NSS

TheNational Service Scheme is an Indian government sponsored public serviceprogramme conducted by the Ministry of youth affairs and Sports of thegovernment of India. Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Gandhiji’s centenary year in 1969. Aimed at developing student’s personality throughcommunity service, NSS is a voluntary association of young people in colleges.

Theprogramme aims to instill the idea of social welfare in students, and toprovide service to society without bias. NSS volunteers work to ensure thateveryone who is needy gets help to enhance their standard of living and lead alife of dignity. In doing so, volunteers learn from people in villages how tolead a good life despite a scarcity of resources. It also provides help innatural and man-made disaster by providing food, clothing and first aid to thedisaster’s victims.

Atnational level, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India is the nodalauthority, which works with state-level NSS cells. State-level NSS cells areresponsibility of the respective state governments. Within states, eachuniversity has University level NSS cell under which institutions (schools andcolleges) based NSS units operate. Most government and government-aidedinstitutions have volunteer NSS units. They are managed internally by aresponsible party from the school or college, who reports to the regional NSScoordinator.

Activities

There aretwo types of activities: Regular Activities (120 hours) and Annual Special Camp(7 days). All the NSS Volunteers who have served NSS for at least 2 years andhave performed 240 hours of work under NSS participate of one 7 days specialcamp are entitled to a certificate from the university under the signature ofthe Vice-Chancellor and the Programme Coordinator. After submitted the projectreport and viva in the university entitled for 'C' certificate. The Annualcamps are known as Special Camps. Camps are held annually, funded by thegovernment of India, and are usually located in a rural village or a citysuburb. Volunteers may be involved in such activities as:

1.    Cleaning

2.    A forestation

3.    Stage shows or a procession creating awareness ofsuch issues as social problems, education and cleanliness

4.    Awareness Rallies

5.    Inviting doctors for health camps

There areno predefined tasks; it is left up to the volunteers to provide service in anyway that is feasible. Camps typically last between a week and 7 days, althoughcamps for shorter periods are also conducted by NSS as one day camp. Also everyyear state level camp, National integration camp and pre Republic Day camp,Republic Day camp are conducted.

Theme

In thepast the themes of the Special Camping Programmes have been Youth forcleanness, youth for most cleanness.

Other Initiatives

In someinstitutions volunteers are involved in regular blood donation and trafficcontrol (regulating queues in temples and preventing stampedes at functions).National conferences are held regularly to conduct white-paper and projectpresentation NSS resembles the and other programmes developed for nationalwelfare.

NSS Awards

Torecognize the voluntary service rendered by NSS volunteers, Programme Officers(POs), NSS Units and the University NSS Cells, it has been proposed to provide suitableincentives/awards under the scheme...
Awards Indira Gandhi national award State awards University level awards

NSS Manual

1.    Orientation of students in national problems.

2.    Study of philosophy of NSS.

3.    Basic concepts and components of NSS.

4.    National service scheme (NSS) volunteers.

5.    Special camping programme.

6.    Fundamental rights, Directive principles of statepolicy.

7.    Awareness programme, Consumer awareness, Highlightsof    consumer act.

8.    Function literacy non formal education of ruralyouth.

9.    Environment enrichment and conservation.

10. Health, family welfare and nutrition.

11. Brief of five year plans.