NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICE GENESIS

AND GROWTH OF NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME
 The central theme which Mahatma Gandhi tried to impress upon his student
audience again and again, was that they should always keep before them,
their social responsibility.
 The post – independence era- was marked by an urge for introducing social
service for students.
 The University Grants Commission headed by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan
recommended introduction of national service in the academic institutions
on a voluntary basis.
 In 1958, the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in his letter to the
Chief Ministers, enriched the idea of having social service as a prerequisite
for graduation.
 In 1959, a draft outline of the scheme was placed before the Education
Ministers’ Conference.
 A national service Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of
Dr.C.D. Deshmukh on August 28, 1959 to make concrete suggestions in this
direction. The committee recommended that national service for a period of
nine months to a year may be made compulsory for all students completing
high school education and intending to enroll themselves in a college or a
university.
 In 1960, at the instance of the Government of India, Prof.K.G.Saiyidain
studied national service by students implemented in several countries of the
world and submitted his report under the title “National Service for the
Youth”.

1
  It was recommended that a national or social service should be introduced
on a voluntary basis and extended as widely as possible with a provision for
rich and varied programmes of activities.
 The Education Commission headed by Dr.D.S. Kothari (1964-66)
recommended that students at all stages of education should be associated
with some form of social service.
 The Vice Chancellors’ Conference in September, 1967 welcomed this
recommendation.
 It was laid down that work experience and national service should be an
integral part of education.
 In May, 1969, a conference of the students’ representatives of the
universities and institutions of higher learning convened by the Ministry of
Education and the University Grants Commission also unanimously
declared that national service could be a powerful instrument for national
integration.
 On September 24, 1969, the then Union Education minister Dr. V.K. R.V.
Rao,launched the NSS programme in 37 universities covering all states and
simultaneously requested the Chief Ministers of States for their cooperation
and help.
National Service Scheme (NSS)
Launched in 1969 The Birth Centenary
Year of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our Nation
OBJECTIVES OF NSS
1. Understand the community in which they work.
2. Understand themselves in relation to their community.
3. identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in
problem solving process.
2
4. Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility.
5. Utilize their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and
community problemsDevelop competence required for group living and sharing of
responsibilities.
7. Gain skills in mobilizing community participation.
8. Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude.
9. Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and
10. Practice national integration and social harmony.
The overall objective of the scheme is education and service to the community
MOTTO OF NSS“NOT ME BUT YOU”
NSS SYMBOL

3
The symbol of the National Service Scheme, as appearing on the cover 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 wheel signifies the progressive cycle of life.
It stands for continuity as well as change and implies on the part of the NSS for
continuous striving for social transformation and upliftment

NSS BADGE

• The NSS symbol is embossed on the NSS badge.

• The NSS volunteers wear it while undertaking various programme of
community service.
• The Konark wheel in the symbol has eight bars which represent 8 parts 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.

4
Programmes
(Present Thrust Areas
• One NSS unit consists of 100 student volunteers led by a teacher -in -charge
called "NSS Programme Officer”.
ACTIVITIES
Regular activities (community work); 120 hours in a year
• Special activities - 12 hours in a year - two per semester of 3 hours duration
A Camp of 7 days duration is conducted every year in an adopted village/slum on
specific theme
APPROACH
NSS attempts to establish meaningful linkages between
· Campus and Community.
· College / university and Villages.
· Knowledge and action.

BENEFITS TO STUDENTS
In order to recognize the NSS units the following awards are instituted
1. STATE NSS Award
2. Indira Gandhi NSS National Award
In addition to the above awards certificate will be issued to NSS students
after two years of completion.
In addition Leading volunteers are being selected and sent each year to take part in
programmes organized at the national level.
Republic Day Parade
National Integration Camp
National Youth Festival etc

5
DUTIES OF NSS VOLUNTEERS
1. To establish rapport with the people in the project area.
2. Identify needs, problems and resources of the community.
3. To plan programs and carry out plans.
4. Relate his learning and experience towards- finding solutions of the
problems he identifies.
5. Record the activities in his work diary systematically

Major activities Undertaken under NSS Environment Enrichment and

Conservation
 Plantation of trees, preservation and upkeep.
 Creation of NSS parks / gardens
 Construction & maintenance of village streets, drains, etc.
 Construction of sanitary.
 Cleaning of village ponds and wells
 Popularisation and construction of Gobar Gas Plants, use of non-
conventional energy
 Environmental sanitation, and disposal of garbage & composting.
 Prevention of soil erosion, and work for soil conservation.
 Watershed management and wasteland development.

Health, Family Welfare and Nutrition Programme

 Programmes of mass immunization

 Working with people in nutrition programmes
 Provision of safe and clean drinking water
 Integrated child development programmes
6
  Health education, AIDS Awareness and preliminary health care.
 Population education and family welfare programme.
 Life Skill Education Centres and counseling centres.

Programmes aimed at creating an awareness for improvement of the status of

women
 Programmes of educating people and making them aware of women’s rights
both constitutional and legal
 Creating consciousness among women that they too contribute to economic
and social well-being of the community
 Creating awareness among women that there is no occupation or vocation
which is not open to them provided they acquire the requisite skills
 Imparting training to women in sewing, embroidery, knitting and other skills
wherever possible
Social Service Programmes

 Work in hospitals, for example, serving as ward visitors to cheer the

patients, help the patients, etc.
 Work with the organizations of child welfare
 Work in institutions meant for physically and mentally handicapped.
 Organising blood donation, eye-pledge programmes
 Work in Cheshire Homes, orphanages, homes for the aged, etc.
 Work in welfare organizations of women
 Prevention of slums through social education and community action.

7
Production Oriented Programmes

 Working with people and explaining and teaching improved agricultural

practices
 Rodent control and pest control practices
 Weed control
 Soil-testing, soil health care and soil-conservation
 Assistance in repair of agricultural machinery
 Work for the promotion and strengthening of co-operative societies in
villages
 Assistance and guidance in poultry farming, animal husbandry, care of
animal health etc.
 Popularization of small savings
 Assistance in procuring bank loans.

Relief & Rehabilitation work during Natural Calamities

 Assisting the authorities in distribution of rations, medicine, clothes etc.

 Assisting the health authorities in inoculation and immunization, supply of
medicine, etc.
 Working with the local people in reconstruction of their huts, cleaning of
wells, building roads, etc.
 Assisting and working with local authorities in relief and rescue operation.
 Collection of clothes and other materials, and sending the same to the
affected areas.

8
Education and Recreations
 Adult education
 Pre-school education programme
 Programmes of continuing education of school drop-outs, remedial coaching
of students from weaker sections.
 Work in crèches
 Participatory cultural and recreation programmes for the community
including the use of mass media for instruction and recreation, programmes
of community signing, dancing etc.
 Organization of youth clubs, rural and indigenous sports in collaboration
with Nehru Yuva Kendras
 Programmes including, discussions on eradication of social evils like
communalism, casteism, regionalism, untouchability, drug-abuse etc.
 Non-formal education for rural youth
 Legal literacy, consumer awareness

Strength from the Past

• Over the years, NSS has made significant contribution in the field of
literacy, disaster management, health and family welfare and environment
• NSS efforts made Kottayam town in Kerala the first total literacy town in
India.
• 350 acres at sirsi in Karnataka in Western Ghats were developed with 3.5
lakh saplings.
• During cyclone and flood in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and
Assam, NSS efforts in rescue, relief and rehabilitation earned appreciation
from the public

9
 • In Bihar, Orissa, Kerala and Haryana thousands of shelters for shelter less
have been constructed. In Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, which shed
enough blood in the past, now top in blood donation camps.

THOUGHT FOR NSS VOLUNTEERS

 A courageous person never gets disappointed.
 Do work for wisdom & worship.
 You measure your talent by what you can do but people
measure it by what you have done.
 Through constant efforts we are sure to reach our goal.
 If our words hurt a person then it is better to keep quite.

LIST OF INTERNATIOAL AND NATIONAL DAYS/WEEKS TO BE

OBSERVED BY NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME
01. National Youth Day 12th January
02. Republic Day 26th January
03. Martyr Day 30th January
04. International Women Day 8th March
05. World Health Day 7th April
06. Anti-Terrorism Day 21st May
07. World No Tobacco Day 31st May
08. World Environment Day 5th June
09. World Population Day 11th July
10. Independence Day 15th August
11. Sadbavana Day 20th August
12. International Literacy Day 8th September
13. International Peace Day 15th September
10
14. NSS Day 24th September
15. National Blood Donation Day 1st October
16. Communal Harmony Day 2nd October
17. National Integration Day 19th November
18. World AIDS Day 1st December
19. World Human Rights Day 10th December

 WEEK
01.National Youth Week 12-19 January
02. Van Mahotsava Week 1-7 July
03. International Literacy week 8-14 July
04. Quami Ekta Week 19-25November

NSS Programmes and Activities

Basic Concepts and Components
 NSS Programme Officer
 NSS Volunteer
 Community
 Aims of NSS Programme /Activities
Classification of NSS Programme
Regular activity: under this, students undertake various programmes in the
adopted villages, college/school campuses and urban slums during week ends or
after college hours -
Special activity – Rally , Awareness Programmes, jaths, Seminar,
workshop, health camping programmes like Eye camp, dental Camp, Blood
Donation Camp, Cancer Awareness, obesity awareness etc
11
 – Special Camping Programme: under this, campus of 7 days duration
are organised in adopted villages or urban slums during vacations with
some specific projects by involving local communities .
ORIENTATION FOR NSS
SPECIAL CAMPING PROGRAMME
OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIAL CAMPING PROGRAMME
(i) making education more relevant to the present situation to meet the felt
needs of the communities and supplement the education of
university/college/school students by bringing them face to face with the
community situation.
(ii) To provide opportunities to students to play their due roles in the
implementation of various development programmes by planning and
executing development projects, which not only help in creating durable
community assets in rural areas and slums but also result in improvement of
the condition of weaker sections of the communities.
(iii) Encouraging the students and non-students youth to work along with the
adults in rural areas, thereby developing their character, social consciousness
and commitment, discipline ad healthy and helpful attitudes towards the
community;
(iv) Building up potential youth leaders by exploring the latent potential among
the campers, both students as well as local youth (rural and urban), with a
view to involve them more intimately in development projects for longer
periods. The local leadership generated during the camps would also be
useful in ensuring proper maintenance of the assets created as a result of the
camps.
(v) Emphasizing the dignity of labour and self-help and the need for combining
physical work with intellectual pursuits, and
12
(iv) Encouraging youth to participate enthusiastically in the process of national
development, and promote national integration through democratic living
and cooperative action.

Planning and Preparation of Special Camping Programme

 Socio-economic and health survey

 It is expected that the concerned NSS Unit has already conducted the
Socioeconomic and Health survey of the adopted village/slum. Unless the
survey data are utilized for planning the programme, such surveys would not
serve any useful purpose. This data should therefore, be made available to
the concerned authorities and followed-up during regular NSS activities. It
would be preferable if such surveys in adopted village/slum (where camps
are planned) are conducted as part of the normal regular programme before
start the camps. Departments and authorities who would be in a position to
make use of the survey data should also be involved in the conduct of the
survey. It would then form part of the pre-camp planning.
Identification of the problems and needs of the adopted area:
 The data collected during these surveys would give a clear idea of the needs
and
 potential of the community. Based upon this, the projects for the camps
could be
 planned and programmes arranged so that the projects meet the felt needs of
the community.

13
Discussion with NSS Group Leaders, Volunteers and Colleagues regarding
camp projects :

 As the Special Camp is considered to be a joint venture of the teaching

community and students, like NSS leaders, volunteers and teachers, The
Programme Officers should take necessary initiative to discuss the details of
the
 projects and required arrangements of the Special Camping. Efforts may be
made to involve more and more people in the organization of the camp, so
that theSpecial Camp does not remain only as an activity organised by the
Programme officer but it becomes a programme of the entire Institution.
Submission of projects to the Programme Coordinator and Regional Centre

The Programme Officer should convey the information regarding the proposed
Special Camp to the Programme Coordinator, NSS Regional Centre, State Liaison
officer and the concerned TOC/TORC. The information should contain the
dates,time, venue and other details of the camp. The nature of the projects to be
undertaken may also be intimated to the above authorities.

Consultation with the local authorities :

 The preparation at the unit level should ensure consultation with the
concerned local departments, the support of the local panchayat and the
community in the village/slums and with active participation by local youth
(upto 10%). Arrangements for upkeep of the assets created as a result of the
camps shall also be ensured by the local community. Efforts should be made

14
 to identify and involve representatives of different Departments who can be
approached for guidance and assistance.
Guidelines for the success of Camp

 The selection of proper projects for special camping programme can boost
the morale of the campers and develop in them a sense of achievement.
(i) The needs of the locality;
(ii) Facilities available in the area;
(iii) Local participation;
(iv) Possibility of completing or developing the project in 7 days and
(v) Possibility of follow-up action in Regular Activities.

FINANCIAL PATTERN OF EXPENDITURE FOR SPECIAL CAMPING

PROGRAMME

 The permissible expenditure for a 7 day camp is Rs. 450/- per camper at
present.
 Rs. 64 /- per camp per day on board and lodging and transport,
contingency expenses etc. is the outer limit and every effort should be made
to keep the expenditure on the lower side especially in view of the need for
austerit To achieve economy in expenditure, the camp should be held in
the village/slums in the vicinity of the college/schools. Thus, the
expenditure on travel should be minimized.
Other expenditures like those on pre-camp orientation, Resource Persons,
Planning of Activities, Evaluation etc., may be met from the NSS regular funds
and should not be charged from camping fund.
15