Importanc of NSS

What is NSS?

The full form of NSS is a National Service Scheme. It is an Indian public service program sponsored by the Indian government and is conducted by the department of youth affairs and sports. This scheme was launched in 1969 in 37 universities. At that time the National service scheme had just forty thousand students and the main objective of the scheme was to develop the personality of students through community service. At present, more than 3.2 million students form a part of NSS. It has spread over 298 universities and 42 senior secondary education councils. NSS organizes regular camps which are funded by the Indian government in which the volunteers visit a rural area and perform activities like cleaning, afforestation, rallies, stage shows. They may also invite doctors for regular health checkups and free health camps for the rural population. The main objectives of NSS are:

• Understanding the community in which the volunteers work.
• Understanding their relationship with the community in which the volunteers work.
• Identifying the needs of the community in which they work and involve the local people in their task.
• Development of social and civic responsibility in the volunteers.
• Use their knowledge in solving the problems of the local population in that area.
• Development of competence in volunteers which is required for living in group and sharing of responsibilities.
• Gain skills in organizing community participation.
• Acquirement of leadership qualities and democratic attitudes of the volunteers.
• Development of stamina in the volunteers for emergencies and natural disasters.
• The practice of integrity and national harmony by the volunteers.

The motto of NSS is “not me, but you”. This motto reflects the need for selfless service. The motto underlines the fact that the welfare of an individual ultimately depends on the welfare of the society. Therefore, NSS shall work for the benefit of the whole society. National service scheme was started on 24 September in 1969, hence, every year 24^th day of September is celebrated as NSS day.

Regular Activities of NSS

NSS volunteers have to complete 120 hours of regular activities throughout one academic year. The volunteer has to remain in constant touch with the community that is villages, slums or voluntary agencies. The activities include:

• Adoption of Village: The NSS volunteers select a village, or we can say, adopt it. The main idea behind the adoption of a village is that rather than visiting so many villages, the volunteers shall focus on one single village. If the volunteers visit many villages, they may not be able to complete all the tasks at a particular area. It would be just wastage of time and resources in this case because none of the tasks would be fruitful.it is better to focus on a single village because at least the tasks that village will be completed and the tasks would be definitely fruitful. The village should be so chosen that it has proper leadership established in it because asks can be completed in a sustainable manner over there. The NSS unit may take help of government agencies for choosing the village. The village should be so chosen that it is not much far from the college or school so that the students serving as NSS volunteers can easily visit over there. The problems of the village shall be identified. On the basis of these problems, strategies should be made for the welfare of the villagers. Under this activity, villagers should be given new ideas new ideas for the development of the village and to improve the standard of living of the villagers. The volunteers should make the villagers about the prevailing trends of water harvesting, agriculture, development of wastelands, sanitation, housing, personal hygiene, consumer rights, legal aids, low-cost housing, non-conventional energy and many other factors. The project or the task should be fruitfully completed as it can win the hearts of the villagers and improve their condition.
• Adoption of Slums: The slum should be so chosen that it is not large, is close to the students and is free from any political conflicts. The residents of the slum should also agree in order to work with the NSS volunteers. Identification of problems, the formation of strategies, and spreading awareness should be done in the same way as described in the adoption of the village. Activities like providing water facility, electricity, health services, sanitation, living conditions etc. may be adopted. Only highly motivated, educated, adaptable, and skilled students should participate in the activity of adoption of slums because of the poor living condition and status of the slums. The volunteers may prepare a report on the different slums, their amenities, living conditions, available services etc. They may talk to the local leaders about the problems of the people living in the slums and the required action to take against them. The can create programs like free health checkup, free milk service, adult education, family planning, child care, health and nutrition, immunization, first aid etc.
• Coordination with Voluntary Organizations: The national service scheme unit has no funds for running various programs and drives in the adopted villages or slums. So, they have to make continuous contacts with the government agencies or the voluntary organizations which are working in this field. These organizations assist them in the completion of their tasks.

Role of NSS in Disaster Management

Our country suffers a lot from disasters. The high powered committee, HPC, submitted a report in 2001 October to the Indian government regarding the different types of disasters which are likely to occur in the country and the preparedness for them. The report outlined thirty-six different types of disasters which are prone to the country. Among these, Earthquakes, floods, cyclone, landslide pose a major risk. Fifty-nine per cent of the country’s area is prone to moderate to high earthquakes, twelve per cent prone to floods, eight per cent is prone to cyclones and two per cent is prone to landslides whereas the slow-motion disaster, that is the drought, can affect sixty-eight per cent of the country’s land. Twenty-seven out of the total states and universities are prone to some of the other disaster. These statistics do not include the man-made disaster like chemical attacks, terrorist attacks etc. At the time when a disaster occurs, help is needed. National service scheme provides this help to the ones who need it. India has a very huge youth population. This population would be of great help at these times. The NSS volunteers are given training for this purpose. They can reach the required spot and help the victims with food, first aid, and motivational help. As these volunteers are educated they know how to help people in the correct manner and they behave in a highly disciplined and peaceful way. The services provided by the NSS during disasters can be seen from the following examples:

• When an earthquake occurred in Khillari, district Latur, Maharashtra, the NSS volunteers built houses for the victims of the earthquake and these groups of houses are called as NSS villages or NSS gram.
• During the Bhopal gas tragedy, NSS volunteers helped the victims by counselling them and made people aware of the different medical treatments available which could help them. They also organized mass blood donation camps for helping the victims. 
• During the earthquake and cyclone which struck Gujarat, the NSS volunteers organized camps and distributed food, clothes, medicines and raised funds for the rehabilitation of the victims.
• During the terrorist attack at Mumbai, tsunami and even in the drought situation in 1986, NSS volunteers organized cattle camps and fodder distributions.

Importance of NSS

National service scheme has been performing many important tasks and bringing good results from them. NSS contains the young population of the country, that is, the students studying in colleges and higher secondary schools. The young blood of these volunteers has a lot of passion. They want to do something for their country. By joining NSS they help in the development of the country. This helps in the overall development of the volunteers. The volunteers gain confidence by participating in the NSS activities. They get to know how to make plans in order to complete a task. They develop skills like public speaking, raising funds, educating others etc. even if they fail in any task; they get to learn from their failures. It improves their level of understanding. The can understand people, their problem better. They get to know the problems our country is facing. They get to know the social, economic and political aspects of the country. On the other hand, it is beneficial for the country also. As they working for the betterment of the people who are living below the standard, in very poor living conditions, they are helping in the development of the country. They make the people about important needs to live and tell them how to improve their living conditions. In this way, it is beneficial for the country and the volunteers both.

Conclusion
NSS is playing an important role in the development of the country and of the students associated with it. NSS has helped many people who were affected by some calamity. With so many benefits of NSS, every student must try to join NSS. For those who want to do something for their nation, NSS is a very good option. The students, who are a part of NSS, must tell other students about the benefits of NSS and motivate them to join it. NSS provides the students with a platform for serving their nation and their personality development also.