NSS

NATIONAL LEVEL AWARDS

In order to recognize the outstanding contributions of NSS volunteers, Program officers, Units / Colleges and Universities a number of State Level National Level Awards have been instituted from the year 1993-94. The details are as follow:

Regular and Special Camping Program:

(a)  Environment Enrichment and Conservation: 

Whereas the main theme for the special camping program me would be “Youth for Sustainable Development “, activities aimed at environment enrichment would be organized under the sub-theme of “Youth for Better Environment “. The activities under this sub-theme would inter-alia, include:

• Plantation of trees, their preservation and upkeep ( each NSS Unit should plant and protect at least 1000 saplings;
• Creation of NSS parks / gardens, Tarun Triveni Vanas.
• Construction & maintenance of village streets, drains, etc. so as to keep the environment clean;
• Construction of sanitary latrines etc.
• Cleaning of village ponds and wells;
• Popularization and construction of Bio 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 waste land development
• Preservation and upkeep of monuments, and creation of consciousness about the preservation of cultural heritage among the community.

(b) Health, Family Welfare and Nutrition Program:

• Programs of mass immunization;
• Working with people in nutrition Programs with the help of Home Science and medical college students;
• Provision of safe and clean drinking water;
• Integrated child development Programs;
• Health education, AIDS Awareness and preliminary healthcare.
• Population education and family welfare program me.
• Life Style Education centers and counseling centers.

(c) Programs aimed at creating awareness for improvement of the status of women:

• Program 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, and imparting training to women in sewing, embroidery, knitting and other skills wherever possible.

ADOPTION OF VILLAGE:

Adoption of a village and area is a very meaningful program in NSS. It is far better to concentrate on one village and take up the task for development perspective, than to fritter away energy in many locations involving too many activities which may not be completed at all or where the follow up action may not be possible. From this point of view, village adoption program should ensure continuity of work, sustained action, evaluation and follow up work.

As a first step in this program, it is necessary to establish contact with several villages and rural units which would help to select a village where Leadership is well developed. In other words selected village with proper leadership is the more important as the sustained follow up action and evaluation is doubly assured. To start with the NSS Unit we can take the help of the Block Authorities, District Panchayat Officer, District Tribal Welfare Officer, D.M.O. and D.H.C. and District Agriculture, Irrigation and Education Officers for the selection of the village. It is to be noted that the village selected should be within a short distance from the college so that we could be in constant touch with it.

Before the program, plan of action is drawn, it is absolutely necessary to conduct a comprehensive survey of a few villages situated at a short distance from the college. Teachers and students from local areas can help for the purpose. On the basis of said survey the program so prepared should cater for better agricultural, educational, social and health-care awareness amongst the villagers. Thus the village adoption program could be carried out by the following three combinations:

(i) Program which can be taken up without NSS resources.

(ii) Program requiring joint efforts of NSS volunteers and villagers.

Camp Program:

(a) It is very essential to prepare a suitable schedule for the camp, so that it helps to develop a sense of discipline and devotion among the campers. As the camp is an occasion for establishing rapport with the community, it should not be treated as a picnic or excursion.

(b) No uniform schedule of activities can be suggested for a work camp due to considerable variety in the scope and content of the projects, the NSS units should ensure that various activities undertaken during the camp are so planned and organized that it ultimately leads to fulfillment of the objectives of holding a camp. In addition to some manual work, the camp should provide opportunity for community living, discussion in group and cultural activities etc. A good camp can adopt the following daily schedule of important activities:

(i) Manual work for accomplishment of the project like construction of small village complex, sustainable development activities like laying out gardens, tree plantation etc. or any other project depending on local needs and priorities.

(ii) Discussion on topics like freedom struggle, character-building, development of culture, family welfare, health and hygiene, national integration, eradication of social evils like casteism, regionalism, dowry, untouchability, alcoholism, corruption, gambling and superstitions; civil, social and national responsibilities of citizens, small savings, improved agricultural practices etc.

(iii) Cultural Programs / community singing in the evening.

(c) It is advisable that during the course of discussions on various topics and the cultural Programs – maximum number of villagers / residents (irrespective of their age) are provided an opportunity to benefit from such discussion and cultural Programs. If some of them are unable to participate in the manual work, but are interested in discussions and cultural Programs, this may be encouraged. Cultural Programs, may, as far as possible, be of educative value with social message. Efforts should be made to get some documentary films on development issues screened for the benefit of the community.

(d)  It has been decided that as a part of the camp, the students should be taken to nearby projects with a rural development content like IRDP, NREP, ICDS, mid-day meals, adult literacy, village roads and sanitation, rural cooperative housing activity, dairying and animal husbandry, social forestry, soil and water conservation projects, and monuments of historical importance, to educate them about the cultural heritage as well as economic and technological advancement of the country. It would be necessary to spend a day for this purpose by economizing on the budget provided for Special Camping Program and extending the duration of the camps by 1 or 2 days. Effective coordination has to be made with State Government and District Authorities to get all assistance in this regard.

Certain changes have to be made considering the weather conditions and other variables. On certain occasions sociocultural Programs could be organized in the community itself

Organization of Camp:

(a) Each camp will have 1-2 teachers and 2-5 student leaders who will work as camp organizers / work supervisors. Each camp may consist of a minimum of 40 and maximum of 50 participants depending upon local needs.

(b) Active participation of local student and non-student youth (up to 10 percent of the camp strength) may be ensured. This can be done through suitable cultural and educational programs, through dance, drama, music etc. undertaken in the evenings in cooperation with the local people.

(c) The NSS Program Officers should ensure adequate representation of students belonging to SC/ST and minority communities, so that young person’s belonging to these communities feel fully involved in the development of the country.

(d) Female NSS volunteers should be encouraged to participate in the camps organized by the co-educational Institutions.

Administration of the Camp:

(a) Maximum number of NSS volunteer leaders and teaching community of the institution may be involved in conducting the camp.

(b) All NSS volunteers participating in the camp should be divided into different groups. Each one will undertake activities according to one’s aptitude, educational qualification and skill. For example, one team can take up mass immunization against preventable diseases, another team can look after environmental sanitation and popularization of Bio Gas Plants; yet another team can concentrate its work on provision of potable water or other activities chosen by the institution etc. Each group may have a few local non-student youth so as to ensure local support on voluntary basis, and to ensure proper follow-up to the Programs during the term time.

(c) The management of the camps may be done through Committees which take care of various aspects of camp life. Punctuality and discipline should be emphasized. All the participants including the teachers should strictly abide by the camp rules and stay in the camp. It is suggested that the following Committees may be formed for running the camp:

(i) Mess Committee: It will look after the food arrangements of the camp;

(ii) Program Committee: To conduct the day-to-day activities of the camp;

(iii) Project Committee: To take care of the project work including supply of tools and equipment.

(iv) Cultural Program Committee: To arrange the cultural programs in a way that all participants get opportunity to show their skill and talent. Group performance may be given preference over individual performance.

(v) General Discipline Committee: It will look after the discipline in the camp.

(vi) Reception of Guest Committee: It will look after the guests in the camp, and make necessary arrangements for their arrival and departure.

Duration of the Camp:

(a) The NSS camp will be of 7 days duration. The NSS volunteers are expected to be in the camp throughout the period including on the inaugural day and depart from the camp only on closing day after valedictory function.

(b) Camps beyond 7 days may be organized by the Institution subject to the condition that no additional finance will be made available. The additional expenditure may be met by exercising economy in the camp expenditure. The camp may be extended by five days over and above the mandatory period of 7days.

(c) In case an important project has been undertaken and it remains incomplete and it is very essential to the community, the NSS units may plan to organize a second camp to complete the project.

Lodging Arrangements:

(a) The lodging arrangements of the camp should be made in a building of the village or panchayat/school.

(b) In case of non-availability, a community building like Panchayat house etc. should be utilizedforsuchpurpose,withtheconsentoftheinfluentialpeopleofthevillage.

(c) No camp should be held in the premises of the college / school. The NSS volunteers must reside in the adopted area where the camp is being held.

(d) Generally, slums in metropolitan cities are not convenient for the students to stay overnight during the project. In such cases the arrangements for stay should be made in the institution itself (the colleges and schools are expected to adopt nearby slums). However, where this is not possible, Day camp can be organized. This provision is only for urban units, who find it extremely difficult to get suitable accommodation for campers.

The approval of the Program Coordinator may be obtained in advance for organizing ‘Day camps’.

Board Arrangements:

(a) The mess should be managed by Mess Committee. The practice of giving the responsibility of food supply to a contractor should be avoided.

b) Food in the camps should be simple but balanced. It should be at minimum cost and as far as possible, prepared out of locally available materials. Meals should be carefully planned with the assistance of such institutions and individuals having knowledge of food and nutrition as may be available in the State. The participants should also be explained about meal planning as an educational lesson; and its propagation among the local community should be an important extension activity of the campers.

c) It should be ensured that the food served in the camp is not very much different from the general standard of the villagers living in the area.

Project Work:

(a) The projects should be selected as per the guidelines, after identifying the needs of the village / slum. No project should be undertaken, which is irrelevant to the needs of the village /slum.

(b) The project should be approved by the competent authority to avoid conflict at later states.

(c) The availability of the materials / equipment and technical advice may be ensured in advance for the success of the project.

(d) All efforts should be made to complete the project during the camp period itself. Every precaution should be taken not to leave the project incomplete.

Benefit of Students/ NSS volunteers:

• Personality Development
• Incentive
• Preference in Admission /Employment
• National Integration camp, Adventure Program, State level as well as National Level program.
• It helps in acquiring leadership qualities and democratic attitude. It provides diversified opportunities to students in colleges and universities to develop their personality through community service.
• It developer a sense of involvement in the task of nation building.
• Volunteer’s interaction with the slum dwellers and villagers expose them to the realities of life and bring about a change in their social perception.
• It helps in developing positive attitude, self confidence, courage & patience.
• It helps in developing his / her skill to perform certain jobs, quality of an organizer, an administrator and development of personality as a whole.
• He / she get an opportunity to see the community closely and thus gets an experience of human nature in relation to his / her environment.
• Gets the opportunity to meet the people from different walks of life.
• He/she gets the opportunity to participate in various National / State level program such as National Integration, Motivational Lamps, value oriented self development camps, Adventure camps, workshops. Youth exhibition, cultural programs etc.
• A National service scheme contingent of 160 (boys and girls) participants selected after a rigorous test participates in the Republic day parade camp for 3 weeks at New Delhi in the month of January every year.
• NSS volunteer completing 240 hours of regular community service in a period of two years is to be issued an NSS certificate by the college / +2 levels Institution or the University / Directorate of education.