ACTIVITY & PROGRESS
National Level Awards
In order to recognize the outstanding contributions of NSS volunteers, programme 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 :
| Sr.No. | Category | No. of Awards | Value of Award |
| 1. | University / +2 Council | 1 | Rs.2,00,000/- |
| 2. | Programme Officers | 6 | Rs.10,000/- each |
| 3. | NSS Units | 6 | Rs.35,000/-each |
| 4. | NSS Volunteers | 16 | Rs.8,000/-each |
Regular Activities of National Service Scheme:-
- Literacy/Educational Programme.
- Environment/Waster land development and conservation.
- Reconstruction/Repair of Roads.
- Immunisation/Health camps.
- Blood donation camps.
- Awareness camps on drug Abuse/AIDS( UTA)/HIV.
- Programmes for Woman.
- Work in Hospitals/Orphanages/ Destitute Homes.
- National Integration/Communal Harmony Programmes.
- Activities during emergencies such as floods, war earthquakes, Tsunami etc.
- Celebration of important days.
- Adoption of villages
- Construction and repair of roads
- Afforestation
- Plastics eradication
- Eye donation
- Tree plantation
Flagship Programmes:-
- Environment awareness programme
- Anti-Drug Campaign
- Energy Conservation Programme
- Anti-Ragging Programme
- First aid training programme
- Traffic Awareness
- Skill development
Regular and Special Camping Programme:
(a) Environment Enrichment and Conservation: Whereas the main theme for the special camping programme would be ” Youth for Sustainable Development “, activities aimed at environment enrichment would be organised 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 ;
- Popularisation and construction of Gobar 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 wasteland 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 Programme :
- Programmes of mass immunization ;
- Working with people in nutrition programmes with the help of Home Science and medical college students ;
- Provision of safe and clean drinking water ;
- Integrated child development programmes ;
- Health education, AIDS Awareness and preliminary health care.
- Population education and family welfare programme.
- LifeStyle Education centres and counselling centres.
(c) Programmes aimed at creating awareness for improvement of the status of women:
- Programme of educating people and making them aware of women’s rights both constitutional and legal ;
- Creating consciousness among women that they too contribute to the 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 programme in NSS. It is far better to concentrate attention on one village and take up the task from a 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, the village adoption programme should ensure continuity of work vis-à-vis sustained action, evaluation and follow up work.
As the first step in this programme, it is necessary to establish contact with several village and rural units which would help to select a village where’ Leadership’ is well developed. In other words, selecting a village with proper leadership is all the more important as the sustained follow up action and evaluation is doubly assured. To start with the NSS Unit 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 there could be constant touch with it.
Before the programme and plan of action are drawn, it is absolutely necessary to conduct a comprehensive survey of a few villages situated at a short distance from the college. The assistance and aid from the teachers and students of Economics, Commerce, Statistics, Home Science, Psychology and Education etc-. have to be mobilized for the purpose.
On the basis of said survey, the programme so prepared should cater for better agricultural, educational, socio-medical and health-care and awareness among the villagers. Thus the village adoption programme could be carried out by the following three combinations:
- The programme can be taken up without NSS resources.
- A programme requiring joint efforts of NSS volunteers and villagers.
Camp Programme
- 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.
- 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 organised that it ultimately leads to the fulfilment of the objectives of holding a camp. In addition to some manual work, the camp should provide opportunities for community living, discussion in groups and cultural activities etc. A good camp can adopt the following daily schedule of important activities :
- Manual work for the 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.
- 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.
- Cultural programmes/community singing in the evening.
- It is advisable that during the course of discussions on various topics and the cultural programmes – the maximum number of villagers/residents ( irrespective of their age ) are provided with an opportunity to benefit from such discussion and cultural programmes. If some of them are unable to participate in the manual work but are interested in discussions and cultural programmes, this may be encouraged. Cultural programmes, may, as far as possible, be of educative value with a social message. Efforts should be made to get some documentary films on development issues screened for the benefit of the community.
- 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 the Special Camping Programme 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 programmes could be organised in the community itself
“Themes” for the Special Camp are the following:-
- Health
- Environment
- Rural Development
- Skill acquisition
- Value Education.
List of International and National Days/Weeks to be Observed by NSS
| Sl.No | DAYS | Date |
| 01. | National Youth Day | 12th January |
| 02. | Republic Day | 26th January |
| 03. | Martyr Day | 30th January |
| 04. | International Women Day | 8th March |
| 05. | World Health Day | 7th April |
| 06. | Anti-Terrorism Day | 21st May |
| 08. | World Environment Day | 5th June |
| 09. | World Population Day | 11th July |
| 10. | Independence Day | 15th August |
| 11. | Sadbavana Day | 20th August |
| 12. | International Literacy Day | 8th September |
| 13. | International Peace Day | 15th September |
| 14 | NSS Day | 24th September |
| 15. | National Blood Donation Day | 1st October |
| 16. | Communal Harmony Day | 2nd October |
| 17. | National Integration Day | 19th November |
| 18. | World AIDS Day | 1st December |
| 19. | World Human Rights Day | 10th December |
| WEEK | ||
| 01. | National Youth Week | 12-19 January |
| 02. | Van Mahotsava Week | 1-7 July |
| 03. | International Literacy week | 8-14 July |
| 04. | Quami Ekta Week | 19-25 November |