National Service Scheme

National Service Scheme (NSS)

About National ServiceScheme (NSS)

The National ServiceScheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry ofYouth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunity to the student youth of11th & 12th Class of schools at +2 Board level and student youth ofTechnical Institution, Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges and Universitylevel of India to take part in various government led community serviceactivities & programmes.The sole aim of the NSS is to provide hands onexperience to young students in delivering community service. Since inceptionof the NSS in the year 1969, the number of students strength increased from40,000 to over 3.8 million up to the end of March 2018 students in variousuniversities, colleges and Institutions of higher learning have volunteered totake part in various community service programmes.

The NSS Badge Proud toServe the Nation:

·        All the youthvolunteers who opt to serve the nation through the NSS led community servicewear the NSS badge with pride and a sense of responsibility towards helpingneedy.

·        The Konark wheel inthe NSS badge having 8 bars signifies the 24 hours of a the day, reminding thewearer to be ready for the service of the nation round the clock i.e. for 24hours.

·        Red colour in thebadge signifies energy and spirit displayed by the NSS volunteers.

·        The Blue coloursignifies the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute itsshare for the welfare of the mankind.

Motto:

The motto of NationalService Scheme is NOT ME BUT YOU

Benefits of Being aNSS Volunteer:

A NSS volunteer whotakes part in the community service programme would either be a college levelor a senior secondary level student. Being an active member these studentvolunteers would have the exposure and experience to be the following:

·        an accomplished socialleader

·        an efficientadministrator

·        a person whounderstands human nature

Major Activities:

National IntegrationCamp (NIC):

The NationalIntegration Camp (NIC) is organized every year and the duration of each camp isof 7 days with day-night boarding & lodging. These camps are held indifferent parts of the country. Each camp involves 200 NSS volunteers toundertake the scheduled activities.

Objectives of theNational Integration Camp

Make the NSSvolunteers aware of the following:

·        Rich culturaldiversity of India

·        History of ourdiversified culture

·        National pride throughknowledge about India

·        To integrate thenation through social service

Adventure Program:

The camps are heldevery year which are attended by approximately 1500 NSS volunteers with atleast 50% of the volunteers being girl students. These camps are conducted inHimalayan Region in the North and Arunachal Pradesh in North East region. Theadventure activities undertaken in these camps includes trekking of mountains,water rafting, Para-sailing and basic skiing.

Objectives ofAdventure Program

·        Promote variousadventure activities among NSS volunteers

·        Infuse the sense oflove towards the various regions of India

·        Enhance leadershipqualities, fraternity, team spirit and risk taking capacity.

·        Improvement ofphysical and mental strength

·        Exposure to newvocational possibilities

NSS Republic DayParade Camp:

The first Republic DayCamp of NSS Volunteers was held in 1988. The camp takes place in Delhi between1st and 31st January every year with 200 NSS selected volunteers who are goodin discipline, March-past and cultural activities.
A Contingent of selected NSS volunteers participates in the Republic Day Paradeat Rajpath, New Delhi on 26th of January every year in accordance with theguidelines and requisition of the Ministry of Defence.

Objectives of NSSRepublic Day Parade Camp

·        Enable the volunteersto interact with fellow members hailing from various parts of India.

·        Experience thetradition, custom, culture, language of all states of India.

·        Provide a chance todevelop overall personality of the Student volunteers.

·        Constitute the bond ofpatriotism, national integration, brotherhood and communal harmony.

National YouthFestivals

National YouthFestivals are organized every year from 12^th to 16^th January by the Government of India, Ministry of YouthAffairs & Sports in collaboration with the State Governments in differentparts of the country. Eminent guests, speakers and youth icons are invited toaddress and interact with about 1500 participating NSS volunteers during theNational Youth Festivals.

Objectives of NationalYouth Festivals

·        Make the volunteersaware of the various festivals celebrated in the country

·        Remind the volunteersof the cultural importance of festivals celebrated in our country

·        Provide a chance tothe NSS volunteers to interact with the resource person/speaker/youth icons

National ServiceScheme Award

The Ministry of YouthAffairs and Sports, Government of India had instituted the National ServiceScheme Awards to recognize the voluntary service rendered by NSS volunteers,Programme Officers, N.S.S. units and the university/senior secondary council.

These awards wereinstituted in the year 1993-1994. Since then, these awards are given away everyyear at various Levels. The details of these awards are as follows:-

Objectives of NationalService Scheme Award

·        To recognizeoutstanding contribution by NSS student volunteers, NSS Programme Officers andthe Programme Coordinators in community service

·        To encourage young NSSstudent volunteers to develop their personality through community service.

·        To encourage theProgramme Officers and the Programme Coordinators of NSS for catering the needsof National Service Scheme through the NSS volunteers.

To motivate NSS Volunteers forcontinuing their selfless service towards community work.