NSS

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

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

At national level, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India is the nodal authority, which works with state-level NSS cells. State-level NSS cells are responsibility of the respective state governments. Within states, each university has University level NSS cell under which institutions (schools and colleges) based NSS units operate. Most government and government-aided institutions have volunteer NSS units. They are managed internally by a responsible party from the school or college, who reports to the regional NSS coordinator.

Activites

There are two types of activities : Regular Activities(120 hours) and Annual Special Camp(120 hours). All the NSS Volunteers who have served NSS for at least 2 years and have performed 240 hours of work under NSS are entitled to a certificate from the university under the signature of the Vice-Chancellor and the Programme Coordinator. The Annual camps are known as Special Camps. Camps are held annually, funded by the government of India, and are usually located in a rural village or a city suburb. Volunteers may be involved in such activities as:

1. Cleaning
2. Afforestation
3. Stage shows or a procession creating awareness of such issues as social problems, education and cleanliness
4. Awareness Rallies
5. Inviting doctors for health camps

There are no predefined tasks, it is left up to the volunteers to provide service in any way that is feasible. Camps typically last between a week and 7 days, although camps for shorter periods are also conducted by NSS.

Theme

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'[2] `Healthy Youth For Healthy India`.

Other Initiatives

In some institutions volunteers are involved in regular blood donation and traffic control (regulating queues in temples and preventing stampedes at functions). National conferences are held regularly to conduct white-paper and project presentation

NSS resembles the  and other programmes developed for national welfare.

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 state policy.
7. Awareness programme, Consumer awareness, Highlights of consumer act.
8. Function literacy non formal education of rural youth.
9. Environment enrichment and conservation.
10. Health, family welfare and nutrition.
11. Brief of five year plans.