National Service Scheme(NSS) is an Indian government-sponsored public service program conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairsand Sports of the Government of India.The first education commission (1950) recommended the introduction of national service by students on a voluntary basis. NSS was launched during 1969, the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi, in 37 universities involving 40000 students. NSS is an extension dimension to the higher education system to orient the student youth to community service while they are studying in educational institutions.
Development of student’s personality through community service.
To kindle the students social consciousness.
To give them opportunities:
The motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is “NOT ME BUT YOU”. The goal of NSS is “Education through Community Service and Community Service through Education”.
The NSS symbol is based on the “Rath” wheel of the Konark Sun Temple situated in Odisha.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.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 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 the continuity as well as change and implies on the part of the NSS for continuous striving for social transformation and upliftment. There are 24 wheels in ‘Rath’ of Sun temple of Konark. Each wheel has eight bars which represents 8 pahars of day.
The NSS badge embossed NSS symbol. All the NSS volunteers wear it while undertaking various community programmes of community service.
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:
There are no predefined or preassigned tasks; it is left up to the volunteers to provide service in any way that is feasible. Camps typically last between a week and 10 days, although camps for shorter periods are also conducted by NSS.
The unit at college/+2 level is the grass-root unit in NSS. An institution will be allotted NSS units according to the strength of students. The number of units will be allotted by the Programme Coordinator in consultation with NSS Regional Directorate and State NSS Officer considering the demands of the institution. The strength of a unit will be 100 NSS volunteers normally. A Programme Officer will be incharge of a NSS unit. Only those belonging to the teaching faculty will be considered for appointment as Programme Officer. Programme Officer will be responsible for the organization of NSS unit, implementation of NSS programme under the supervision and direction of Principal of the college or head of the institution.
Constitution
Functions
To recognize the voluntary service rendered by NSS volunteers, Programme Officers (POs), NSS Units and the University NSS Cells, it has been proposed to provide suitable incentives/ awards under the scheme. Awards Indira Gandhi national award State awards University level awards.