NSS

Introduction:

The National Service Scheme (NSS) of the College is working from the establishment of the College. NSS performs its activities as per guidelines issued by the University of Pune from time to time. It aims to inculcate 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.
The National Service Scheme (NSS), a voluntary and value- based student youth programme, is one of the major youth schemes being operated in the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The Scheme was launched with the primary objective of developing the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service.
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.
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.
Motto:
The motto of the NSS is ‘NOT ME BUT YOU’. This expresses the essence of democratic living and upholds the need to appreciate the other person’s point of view first and to show consideration for fellow human beings. It also underlines that the welfare of the individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of Society as a whole. NSS attempts to establish meaningful linkages between “Campus and Community”, “College and Village” and “Knowledge and Action”.

Aims & Objectives:

The aims and objectives of the NSS are:
(i) to render service to the community while studying in an educational institution;
(ii) to arouse the social conscience among students;
(iii) to provide them with an opportunity to work creatively and constructively with the community around the educational campus; and
(iv) to put the education they receive to concrete social use; and specifically, (i) to work with and among the people; (ii) to engage in creative and constructive social action; (iii) to enhance knowledge of oneself and the community through a face-to-face with reality; (iv) to use the knowledge gained in the classroom in a practical way for mitigating at least some of the social problems; and (v) to gain skills in programme development to be able to be self-employed. The goals are to achieve improvement in personality, leadership qualities, national outlook and a sense of civic responsibility.

NSS UNIT AND PROGRAMME OFFICER:
One NSS unit consists of three Programme Officer who will be a faculty member. The Programme Officer is expected to motivate the student youth to understand the values and philosophy of NSS. The overall functions of Programme Officer are to help the students to plan, implement and evaluate the activities of NSS under his/her charge and give proper guidance and directions to the student volunteers.

NSS STUDENT VOLUNTEERS:
Any student enrolled as an NSS Volunteers, as per NSS Manual should put in at least 240 hours of useful social work in a continuous period of two year (i.e. 120 hours per year). A work diary is to be maintained by each NSS Volunteer, which will help him/her in the assessment his/her performance. Such volunteer is eligible to get NSS Service Certificate from the University.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

The programme officer is expected to motivate student youth to understand the values and philosophy of NSS. The function of PO is to help students to plan, implement and evaluate the activities of NSS under charge and give proper guidance and direction to the student volunteer.

Functions of Programme Officer:
1.Plan the NSS regular activities and special camp.
2.Ensure that NSS volunteers complete the prescribed hours. 20 hours for orientation.
3.Divide into different groups for projects.
4.Supervise the work of NSS volunteers.
5.Maintain necessary records and register.
6.Will be responsible for the equipment and stores.
7.Spend funds as per financial rules.
8.Will submit the records periodically.
9.Will submit the accounts in time.

DUTIES OF NSS VOLUNTEERS:
First and Second year students have to be enrolled as NSS Volunteers. NSS volunteer should put in
1.Establish rapport with the people in the project area.
2.Identify needs, problems and resources of the community.
3.Plan programmes and carry out the plan.
4.Relate learning experience towards finding solutions to the problem identified, and
5.Record the activities in work diary systematically and assess the progress periodically and effect changes as and when needed.

College will provide necessary facilities for the storage of NSS materials and equipments.
1.Articles purchased out of NSS funds will be stored separately
2.Stores and equipment will be entered in stock register. Register may be initialled by Head of the institution.
3.At the time of change over the stocks and register has to be handed over to next P.O as per the instruction of HOD.

Procedures:

Administrative Structure:
The basic unit of NSS of our College comprises of 250 volunteers at school/college level. Each NSS uniting an institution is led by a teacher designated as ‘Programme Officer (PO)’, who plays a pivotal role as an educator, organizer, coordinator, supervisor, administrator and public relations person for the NSS unit under him.

Programmes:
The NSS has two types of programmes, viz., (a) Regular activities and (b) Special Camping programmes.
Under the “Regular Activities”, students are expected to work as volunteers for a continuous period of two years, rendering community service for a minimum of 120 hours per annum(i.e. 240 hours over 2-year period).
Under Special Camping Programme, a camp of 07 days’ duration is conducted every year in the adopted area on a specific theme. Each student is required to participation at least one Special Camp over 2-year period.The nature of activities taken up under NSS continues to evolve in response to the needs of the community. A illustrative list of some of the activities undertaken under NSS is as follows:

Education: Adult literacy, pre-school education, continuing education of school drop-outs, legal literacy, consumer awareness, programmes on eradication of social evils, etc.
Health, Family Welfare and Nutrition: Immunization, blood donation, health education, AIDS awareness, population education and family welfare programmes, working with people in nutrition programmes, provision of safe drinking water, life skill education, etc.

Environment Conservation: Plantation of trees and their preservation/ upkeep, cleaning and maintenance of streets, drains etc., construction of sanitary latrines, watershed management, soil conservation, etc.

Social Service Programmes: Work in hospitals, institutions for disabled persons, orphanages, old-age homes, women welfare institutions, etc.

Programmes for improving Status of Women: Awareness generation reg. women’s rights, creating awareness among women reg. how they can contribute to the social and economic well-being of the community, imparting skill training to women wherever possible.

Relief and Rehabilitation during Natural Calamities: Assisting and working with local authorities in rescue and relief operation, in distribution of rations, medicines, clothing, immunization and inoculation, etc.