About NSS

The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunity to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class of schools at +2 Board level and student youth of Technical Institution, Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges and University level of India to take part in various Government led community service activities & programmes. 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.

History of NSS

The idea of National Service Scheme was first proposed by Major General Jagannath Rao Bhonsle. Later, the University Grants Commission, headed by S. Radhakrishnan, officially recommended the introduction of voluntary national service in academic institutions. This idea was again considered by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) at its meeting in January, 1950; after examining the idea and the experiences of other countries in this field, the board recommended that students and teachers should devote time to voluntary manual work. In the draft, the first Five-Year Plan adopted by the government in 1952 and the need for social and labour service by Indian students for one year was stressed. In 1958 Jawaharlal Nehru, in a letter to the chief ministers, considered the idea of social service as a prerequisite for graduation. He directed the Ministry of Education to formulate a suitable scheme for the introduction of national service into academic institutions.

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 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, then the Union Education Minister Shri.V.K.R.V. Rao launched the NSS at 37 universities in several states of India. The scheme has been extended to all states and universities in the country, and also +2 level institutes in many states. The then Minister attached to PM of India legendary Smt. Nandini Satpathy had a strong hand in the conceptualisation as well as in the launch of NSS.

Vision

The vision is to build the youth with the mind and spirit to serve the society and work for the social uplift of the down-trodden masses of our nation as a movement.The programme aims to instilling 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 disasters by providing food, clothing and first aid to the disaster’s victims.

Mission

The National Service Scheme has been functioning with the motto “NOT ME BUT YOU” in view of making the youth inspired in service of the people and hence NSS Aims Education through Community Service and Community Service through Education.

Broad Objectives

1. Understand the community in which they work.
2. Understand themselves in relation to their community.
3. Identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem solving process.
4. Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility.
5. Utilize their knowledge in finding practical solution to individual and community problems.
6. Develop competence required for group living and sharing of responsibilities.
7. Gain skills in mobilizing community participation.
8. Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude.
9. Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and Practice National integration and social harmony.
10. Practice national integration and social harmony