While explaining the concept of 'National Service Scheme', the words Service and Sacrifice describe the importance of service in the life of the youth. Especially in the education sector, various schemes are implemented at different levels in the education sector for the purpose of serving the youth, serving the nation from the youth, and utilizing the youth power for the nation. In the field of education, the scope of national service is increasing from the junior level to the National Service Scheme in the higher education sector. Dr. D. S. The Kothari Education Commission recommended during 1964-66 that students should be linked to community service at all stages of education and in 1967 the Conference of State Education Ministers agreed to have NSS along with NCC. After that, the National Service Scheme started in the Vice-Chancellor’s Council and on 24 September 1969, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth centenary year, Education Minister V.K.R.V Rao started the National Service Scheme on a pilot basis in 37 universities of the country. Today, thousands of colleges and lakhs of students in the country have participated in this scheme. 24th September is celebrated as ‘National Service Scheme Day’. Keeping in mind the motto 'Not me, but you', not for me, but for you, volunteers are ready for social service with the values of national service scheme and social consciousness. While achieving our bright future, we owe something to the society and the nation, so the college youths are doing the work of serving the nation through the National Service Scheme. As per the emblem of the National Service Scheme, today's volunteer is committed to eight-hour social service according to the eight pillars of the emblem and the red color is the blood of the youth for nation building. ‘National Service Scheme’ is working to educate the society through two activities namely regular program and special winter labor camp so that the students can become willing and able to volunteer for patriotism, national integration, pan-religious harmony, tolerance, social commitment. Through regular programs, thoughts of great men are taken from birth anniversary and death anniversary programs, labor donation, youth week, workshops, camps, participate in various programs of the government. With Mahatma Gandhi's idea of 'Let's go to the village', Nirmalgram, comprehensive and sustainable village development through special winter labor camps in the villages, ditch digging, road construction, water harvesting, tree planting, blood donation etc. The National Service Scheme is doing the work of providing youth power or energy source in the political, social, cultural and educational fields of the society through these means. The Mission, Objectives, Motto and Insignia of the National Service Scheme define the nature and function of this initiative. The National Service Scheme has been successful in inculcating self-discipline, social service, democracy, value education among all the volunteers. ‘National Service Scheme’is an innovative initiative of the Government of India which provides social awareness in the society, creates public awareness, and acts as a responsibility towards the nation and the society. In recent times we have been witnessing various strange incidents happening in the society. In such a situation, the youth of today is doing the work of social transformation through the initiative of National Service Scheme so that today’s youth does not go astray. Environmental tree plantation, CCTV work, Green Audit, Disaster Management, Biodiversity, Nirmalya Collection, Water Literacy, Save the Girl Child campaign towards the society, Economic, Family and Educational Survey etc. are being implemented. In order for this youth movement of the National Service Scheme to continue uninterrupted, the central government and the state government are continuously promoting and disseminating the basic schemes through this youth movement.
INTRODUCTION
Savitribai Phule Pune University (S.P.P.U) has given permission to Affiliated Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal’s Sahebraoji Buttepatil Rajgurunagar Tal. Khed Dist. Pune for allowing 50 volunteers for regular camp and 25 volunteers for special labor camp to start National Service Scheme in its college in Pune from the academic year 2018-19. From the academic year 2022-23, the university has allowed 100 volunteers for regular camp and 50 volunteers for special labor camp.
OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME
The National Service Scheme started with the purpose of social work while pursuing education with constructive work by mingling with the people of our neighborhood and understanding them, developing your personality through social service. The major objectives are as follows: 1.Understanding the society in which we live. 2.To qualify oneself to understand the society concerned. 3.To know the needs of the society, to understand its problem. 4.To develop a sense of social responsibility within us. 5.Make practical use of your education by overcoming personal or social problems to find a solution. 6.To develop in us those qualities which are needed to blend in the society. 7.To develop democratic tendencies by possessing leadership qualities. 8.Bridging the gap between literate and illiterate. 9.To develop the ability to face crisis and natural calamity. 10.To promote and develop national unity. 11.To awaken the desire to serve the poor in the society.
NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME MOTTO AND EMBLEM
NOT ME BUT YOU Not for me but for you is the motto of this scheme. It gives us a sense of democracy, social commitment. It also shows the need for selfless service. The symbol of the National Service Scheme is based on the chariot wheel of the Sun Temple at Konark in the state of Orissa. The wheel is a symbol of motion. Movement can lead to social change and for that the National Service Scheme is a means of social change for today’s college youth.
National Service Scheme Day Every year, 24th September is observed as National Service Scheme Day. On this day, programs like blood donation camp, eye donation, health camp, slum clearance, tree plantation, water conservation are organized at the university level.
NATURE OF NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME
Two types of programs are implemented through the National Service Scheme
Regular program In this program, every student participating in the National Service Scheme is required to do 120 hours of social service work in an academic year in a slum or rural area adopted by the college. This program includes preventive vaccination, AIDS prevention guidance, free blood group screening camp, tree plantation, disease diagnosis camp, village cleanliness, literacy, Environment, social harmony, national integration, water conservation, etc. are being worked in the field of work related to social life.
Special camp program A seven-day residential camp is organized by each constituent college once in a year in the village adopted by the college. In this camp, with the help of professors, students and villagers, social issues are discussed through village cleaning, water conservation, tree plantation, survey, dirt road repair, potholes, , health camp, cultural programs. Also programs like education of villagers etc. are organized.
IMPLEMENTATION
1)College Level For every 100 students participating in the National Service Scheme, one professor is appointed to guide the students in each college. He is called as Program Officer. He has to do this extra work in addition to his regular work for which he is not paid any separate salary. An Advisory Committee consisting of Program Officers and Social Workers of the University is constituted under the Chairmanship of the Principals of the Colleges for effective implementation of the program in each college.
2)University Level : In a college affiliated to the University, R.S.Y.O. To see whether the activities of the Central and State Governments are running properly or not, similarly to guide them at the university level, the R.S.E.O. The room is set up. A professor from a college or university affiliated to the university is appointed on deputation in this cell.
3)Training : Social work and other ancillary to program officers in colleges of National Service Scheme Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Ahmednagar Training Center for training and practice is guided in class. The entire expenditure incurred on this is handled by the central government.
4)State Level : A cell has been set up in the Ministry as per the guidelines of the Central Government at the State level to carry out the activities of NSS in the State through Universities and Colleges in an effective and orderly manner and also to implement and coordinate the Government programs of various departments of the Government through NSS. The administrative expenditure (total expenditure on salary/office expenses etc.) incurred on this unit is borne by the central government. Decisions regarding this program at the state level t o take there is a State Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of the honorable Minister, Higher and Technical Education, consisting of the Vice-Chancellors of all universities and secretaries of some concerned departments.
LIST OF ACTIVITIES
1) Regular Programs-Programs conducted at adopted settlement/village and college level. A) Leadership Qualities Development Camp a) Planning session b) Health check up camp c) School adoption scheme d) Swachhta Mission e) National Integration and Goodwill Program f) Gender equality and various programs for women, female feticide awareness, women empowerment g) Voter awareness h) Events on important days of the year i) Gutkha, anti-tobacco and cancer awareness programs. j) ValuesEducation Workshop, Disaster Management Camp
B) Camp Program – Ten days camp in adopted village/settlement Activities to be undertaken are as follows: a) Awareness on social issues-anti-dowry, superstition, child marriage, population b) Health related programs (public awareness about AIDS, TB, health screening, ataract camp, blood donation camp etc.) c) Afforestation, water conservation, dams, road construction) Eco-friendly tourism d) Literacy campaign e) Empowerment of women and self employment, legal advice f) Emergency services g) National Integration and Goodwill Program – Village History Writing, Study / Agricultural Guidance / Farmers Guidance Meeting
C) National level a) National Integration Camp – (NIC) (Duration – 10 Days) b) Participation in the Republic Day Movement at Delhi c) National Youth Festival d) International, Inter-State, Inter-University, Youth Extradition programs (Youth Exchange Program) e) Leadership Development Camps f) Research Program for National Program Officers- Participation in Delth program g) Participation in Commonwealth Program h) National Adventure Camp
D) State level a) State level camp b) Inter-District, Inter-College, District Level, Youth Repatriation Programs c) East Republic Day Movement Training Camp d) Participation in Republic Day Movement in Mumbai e) State level pre-disaster management training f) Utkarsh Socio-Cultural Workshop Competition g) Adventure camps
AWARDS
A) National level awards Indira Gandhi National Award by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of India 1) Best university, coordinator, program officer and volunteers 2) Commonwealth Best Youth Award
B) State level awards 1) Best University (one) 2) Best Coordinator (one) 3) Best Program Officer (Four) 4) Best College RACEO Unit (Four) 4) Best Volunteer (Twenty Four)
C) Benefits of N S S at Individual Level 1) All-round personality development of the volunteer. 2) The volunteer gets awareness of social problems and their solving skills. 3) Introduction to various social organizations. 4) Swayamsevak gets self employment direction. 5) Students get extra marks and certificate.
D) Social level benefits 1) Public awareness 2) Information about government schemes reaches people. 3) Information about human rights and people’s rights reaches the society. 4) Contribution of volunteer in solving personal and social problems 5) Constructive works are done in society by volunteers. E.g. house, toilet, construction of roads, embankments, tree plantation and conservation. 6) Health Concessions
E) Government Level Benefits: 1)Communicating the policies of the government to the people. 2)Availability of manpower. 3)To bring more quantitative and qualitative benefit of the grant given by the branch to the government.
