National Service Scheme (NSS)

National Service Scheme (NSS) was introduced in 1969 with the primary objective of
developing the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community
service. 'Education through Service' is the purpose of the NSS. The ideological orientation of the
NSS is inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.
The NSS is part of our academic, social and personal life as it is the third dimension of
education. It allows the students to actively contribute their services for the cause of
community and the nation, thus helping them develop their personality. Service and attain the
traits of a leader of the nation. As such, the NSS is the right platform, where the student- youth
of the nation may get to involve with real-life social activities, and thereby become responsible
citizen of India.
Launch of NSS
In May 1969, a conference of student representatives (of universities and institutions of
higher education) convened by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants
Commission also unanimously agreed that a national-service scheme could be an instrument
for national integration. The details were soon worked out and orientation camp was organized
at Rajghat. This camp was concluded on 7 June 1969.KKGupta from DU was declared first
volunteer. The Planning Commission sanctioned an outlay of ₹5 crores for the NSS during the
Fourth Five-Year Plan, stipulating that the NSS be a pilot project in selected institutions and
universities. On 24 September 1969, the then Union Education Minister V.K.R.V. Rao launched
the NSS at 37 universities all states. The scheme has been extended to all states and universities
in the country, and also +2 level institutes in many states.

THE NSS DAY

NSS was formally launched on 24th September, 1969, the birth centenary year of the
Father of the Nation. Therefore, 24 September is celebrated every year as the NSS Day with
appropriate programmes.

The main objectives of National Service Scheme (NSS) are :

i. Understand the community in which they work
ii. Understand themselves in relation to their community
iii. Identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem-solving
iv. Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility
v. Utilise their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems
vi. Develop competence required for group-living and sharing of responsibilities
vii. Gain skills in mobilising community participation
viii. Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitudes
ix. Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and
x. Practise national integration and social harmony

The objective of the NSS is “development of the personality of students through

community service.”
Important Thrust Areas

1.Child Marriage
2.Gender Issues
3.Dowry
4.Sex Determination Test
5.Fitness
6.Tobacco
7.Substance Abuse
8.Sports
9.Yoga
10.Adventure
11.HIV/AIDS & Adolescent Health Issues
12.Water Literacy
13.National Integration & Social Harmony
14.Employment & Livelihood
15.Disaster Management
16.Environment Enrichment
17. Cleaning
18. Afforestation
19. Stage shows or a procession creating awareness of such issues as social problems,
education and cleanliness
20.Awareness Rallies
21.Inviting doctors for health camps

Coverage:
Started initially in 37 universities involving 40,000 volunteers, the scheme has grown over the
years and it is implemented today with an involvement of more than 3.8 million volunteers
spread over in 396 Universities, Polytechnics and 47 Councils of +2 level. The efforts of NSS
volunteers have been widely acclaimed by the community, universities, colleges and general
public as the NSS volunteers have been rendering selfless service to the community.
Motto:
The Motto of NSS "Not Me But You", reflects the essence of democratic living and upholds the
need for self-less service. NSS helps the students development & appreciation to other person's
point of view and also show consideration towards other living beings. The philosophy of the
NSS is a good doctrine in this motto, which underlines on the belief that the welfare of an
individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of the society as a whole and therefore, the
NSS volunteers shall strive for the well-being of the society.
NSS Logo:
The logo for the NSS has been based on the giant Rath Wheel of the world famous Konark Sun
Temple (The Black Pagoda) situated in Orissa, India. The Red & Blue colors contained in the
logo motivate the NSS Volunteers to be active & energetic for the nation-building social
activities. The wheel portrays the cycle of creation, preservation and release and signifies the
movement in life across time and space, The wheel thus stands for continuity as well as change
and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social change.
NSS Badge:
The NSS logo is embossed on the badge of NSS. The eight bars in the wheel of NSS logo represent
the 24 hours of a day. The red colour indicates that the volunteer is full of young blood that is
lively, active, energetic and full of high spirit. The navy blue colour indicates the cosmos of
which the NSS is tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.
Financial Arrangements:
The scheme is now a central sector scheme to organize Regular Activities (RA) and special
Camping Programmes (SCPs). An amount of Rs.250/-per volunteer per annum is released
towards Regular Activities (RAs) and Rs.450/- per volunteer per Special Camping Programme
(SCP) which is of 7-days duration to be organized in the adopted villages/urban slums. In
addition, the Government of India provides 100% financial assistance to run NSS Regional
Directorates, State NSS Cells and Empanelled Training Institute (ETI).

Following are few advantages:

1. You get a certificate from NSS saying you have were active and have worked with a
couple NGOs.
2. Social work on your CV. Most companies prefer to have employees with extra
curriculum activities, especially social work.
3. advantage in Masters course in DU if they were a part of NSS for 3 years
4. You get to meet new people.
5. By joining NSS you will opt for a journey to discover yourself.
6. You will learn about your strengths and weaknesses.
7. You will definitely learn amazing skills and qualities like leadership and team work
among people with different streams.
8. You will get exposure for your works and talents. Even for small contributions and
achievements.
9. It develops your problem-solving skills; you will be able to solve real life andpractical
problems. It provides you with a lot of opportunities to learn new things.
10. You will explore different cultures, mentality and actual situations/problems in
different parts of the state, in villages, in different parts of country and even different
nations through NSS special camps, state camps, National camps and International
Exchange programs.
11. The work you do will provide you with self-satisfaction which is worth of spending
time in it. Believe me or not it is the one of the best extra - curricular activity to be a
part of.
12. By doing work in it you will be definitely contributing in building nation.
13. It makes you a socially active and responsible person. You will learn to stand up
different among the crowd.

NSS Volunteer

NSS volunteers generally work in villages, slums and voluntary agencies to complete 120
hours of regular activities during an academic year. As per the fundamental principles of
National Service Scheme, a volunteer is expected to remain in constant touch with the
community. Hence, it is of vital importance that a particular village/slum is selected for
implementation of NSS programmes. As the NSS volunteer is to live with the members of the
community during the 7 days Special Camping Programme and learn from their experience
during his/her tenure in NSS, the village/slum should be carefully selected for adoption by NSS
unit.
1. Adoption of Villages
1.1 Adoption of a village and area is a very meaningful programme in NSS. It is far better to
concentrate attention 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 programme should ensure continuity of work vis-a-vis sustained action,
evaluation and follow up work.
Contacting Village/Area Leaders
1.2 As a first step in this programme, it is necessary to establish contact with more than one
village which would help to select a village where 'Leadership' is well established. In other
words, selecting a village with proper leadership is very important as the sustained follow up
action and evaluation is ensured in such places. To start with, the NSS unit can take the help of
the Block Authorities, District Panchayat Officer, District Tribal Welfare Officer, District
Medical Officer, Extension Officer of Agriculture, Irrigation and Education Departments for the
selection of the village. It is to be noted that the selected villages should be within a short
distance from the college so that constant contact can easily be made.
Survey of the Village/Area
1.3 Before drawing up the plan of action, it is absolutely necessary to conduct a
comprehensive survey of few villages situated at a short distance from the college. The
assistance from the teachers and students of agriculture, economics, commerce, geography,
statistics, home science, social work, medicine, psychology and education etc. have to be
sought for the purpose. Conducting socio-economic survey can be an interesting field activity
which has direct bearing on the curriculum of economics, commerce, statistics, psychology,
health education etc. The report of such a survey will provide up-to-date information about
the problems and potentials of the village and help in programme planning for village
development. The applied field work will help the students to increase their analytical ability
and deepen their thinking. Further, this will help them to identify the problems which have
been left unnoticed. The survey work can also be accomplished with the help of PRA exercises
(Participatory Rural Appraisal)
Identification of Problem(s)
1.4 It is on the basis of this need assessment that projects/programmes are to be formulated.
The programme officers should use their discretion and should identify the projects which
can be completed by seeking assistance from the communities/other agencies.
1.5 The aim of adoption of village or area is to give new ideas of development to the villagers
which would improve their living conditions. Once the trust of the communities is won, they
start cooperating with the NSS volunteers and approach them for solution of their problems.
One of the important services that can be rendered by NSS volunteers is disseminating
information about the latest developments in agriculture, watershed management,
wastelands development, non-conventional energy, low cost housing, sanitation, nutrition and
personal hygiene, schemes for skill development, income generation, government schemes
such as Swachch Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Accessible India, Digital India, Beti Bachao and
Beti Padhao, Environment and Energy Conservation and Education, legal aid, consumer
protection and allied field.
1.6 The Programme Officers (PO) should motivate the communities to involve themselves
with NSS for the community development work undertaken by the NSS unit. Further he or she
will have to seek the help of various government departments and agencies for technical
advice and financial assistance. Therefore, he/she must establish good rapport with the
government officials and development agencies. For this, it is better if the administration is
taken into confidence by prior consultations.
Completion of Projects
1.7 As already stated, the Programme Officer must select the projects very carefully as the
image of NSS depends upon the successful completion of such projects. Successful completion
of the projects can win appreciation and credit of the community'
Evaluation of Project
1.8 Every project should be evaluated after its completion by involving members of the
community, Government officials and Panchayat officials. The NSS unit should learn from the
lapses in the execution of the project and plan for the next project keeping in view the
bottlenecks and constraints faced by them during the earlier project.
2. Adoption of Slums
Most of the colleges and universities are usually located in the urban areas. Due to long
distance between the college campuses and the villages, the visits to the adopted villages by
the NSS volunteers may become expensive and time consuming. In view of this, it is desirable
to adopt slum especially by colleges located in urban areas.
Survey of the Slum
2.1 For adoption of a slum, there should be composite survey team consisting of students
drawn from faculties like, Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Home Science and Social Work
etc. The selected areas should be compact and should be easily accessible for students. Areas
with acute political conflicts may be avoided.
2.2 The issues pertaining to the identification of problems, project planning, interaction and
coordination with the various departmental agencies, execution and completion of projects
shall be undertaken on the same basis/lines as discussed earlier in the part 'Adoption of
Villages'. The progress of projects should also be reviewed frequently.
Services in Slums
2.3 The slum, tenements, Jhuggis and Jhoupris can be adopted by the NSS units with the aim of
slum improvement. Under this, activities like providing water, water logging, sanitation,
electricity, drainage, health and welfare services, life and living conditions, can be undertaken.
NSS volunteers for Slum Work
2.4 Taking into account the living conditions & status of slum dwellers of the slums, only highly
motivated, adaptable, mature and skilled students should be selected for slum development.
2.5 Following are the tasks which the students can undertake in slum areas:-
(a) As Community Investigators: They can prepare brief community profile on various slums in
the city or town covering different amenities, services, and living conditions etc.
(b) As Community Workers: They can identify local leaders and in cooperation with them
discuss local problems on which cooperative action can be initiated.
(c) As Programme Aides: Students can help the local communities' in launching a number of
programmes like setting up a free milk distribution centre, sanitation drive, recreation, adult
lad primary education, health projects like immunization. first aid centre, child care, nutrition
classes, and free legal aid centres etc. They can also help in forming youth clubs, children's
groups, mahila mandals etc.

(d) As Community Organizers: NSS students, after establishing rapport with the slum dwellers,
can form community association to tackle local problems on a group basis with reliance on local
resources, self help and mutual aid and with some minimum external assistance.
2.6 Some suggestions for Selection of slums
(i) There should be a socio-economic survey of the slum by a team of volunteers drawn from
different faculties;
(ii) The selected area should be compact. There should not be more than 300 residents in an
adopted slum;
(iii) The community people should be receptive to the ideas of improving their living
standard. They should also be ready to coordinate and involve in the projects undertaken by
the NSS for their upliftment;
(iv) The areas where political conflicts are likely to arise should be avoided by the NSS units;
(v) The area should be easily accessible to the NSS volunteers to undertake frequent visits to
slums;
(vi) The working in the slum needs commitment and hard work. Only sensitive and highly
motivated NSS volunteers can find easy to serve in slum areas.
3. Coordination with Voluntary Organizations
It may be noted that the NSS unit has no financial resource to implement any programme
in the adopted villages or slum on its own. Therefore, a successful unit has to closely coordinate
with the government agencies and voluntary organisations working in this field.
3.1 After identification of the needs of the community and the selection of projects, the
programme officer should look for the Government agency or a voluntary organisation who can
assist in the completion of a particular project. The different departments of the Government
like forest, agriculture, adult education, health, child and family welfare, can render very useful
assistance to the project pertaining to community work. Voluntary organisations can also help
in forming public opinion in favour of NSS projects. Adult education samitis, Nasha Bandi
Boards, Yuva Mandals and Mahila Mandals can provide additional assistance to the NSS units.
Similarly voluntary land statutory welfare agencies such as Community Centres, Residential
Institutions for children/women, the Aged and Institutions for physically handicapped and
disabled can provide a wide scope of the choice of service to the NSS volunteers. NSS volunteers
can be placed with these agencies considering the inherent aptitudes and inclinations of NSS
volunteers. NSS volunteers must be told to develop a sense of belonging and respect for the
people with whom they are working. Working in close collaboration with these agencies will
help the NSS volunteers in understanding the problems of a vulnerable section of the society.
The work opportunities in the welfare institutions may be enumerated as under-
(i) Adoption of welfare institutions and helping the inmates and staff by arranging outings,
fund collection drives, reading and writing letters for those who are unable to do so;
(ii) propagation of the message of Swachchta, Digital Literacy, renewable energy etc.
(iii) working for improvement of physical environment;
(iv) programme of non-formal education and general literacy classes;
(v) organisation of economic development activities;
(vi) establishment of hobby centres and
(vii) assisting in the rehabilitation work of the disabled, destitute etc.
In addition, NSS units and welfare agencies can take up joint community development projects
and other programmes of community welfare land awareness depending on the local needs.
3.2 The NSS Programme Officers should plan activities in the adopted village or slum in such a
way that the leisure time of the NSS volunteers can be utilized in the service of adopted village
or slum. Week-end visits to the adopted areas provide suitable opportunities to live with the
community and know their problems and make an earnest effort to do something for them.
Similarly efforts should be made to follow up the work done in the areas earlier. Such sustained
efforts will flower into friendship between the NSS unit and the community. These activities
can be arranged through one day camps and frequent visits under regular activities.

If we want to go for ISO certification Institute should have NSS.

If we want to go for NAAC Certification Institute should have NSS.
If we want to go for NBA Accreditation Institute should have NSS.