About National Service Scheme
“We cannot build the future of our youth but we can build our youth for future”
Franklin D Roosevelt
Birth of NSS
The University grand commission headed by Dr S Radhakrishnan recommended introduction of socially committed national service in academic institution on voluntary basis. This idea was considered by the CABE(central advisory board of education in 1950 .The board recommended that students spend some time to manual based social work for the buildup of the nation. Jawaharlal Nehru promoted this idea in his letter to chief ministers of states in 1958, also he gave the instruction to the ministry of education to build up a scheme for the introduction of national service in academic institutions.
A draft out line of the scheme was presented in the conference of the education ministers of the states in 1959. The conference accepted the need of a voluntary based scheme for national service and decided to appointment a committee to work out the details of the proposed pilot project .The national service committee was formed headed by CD Deshmukh on 28 august 1959 .This committee made a lot of suggestions for the development of NSS. This committee support the introduction of national service for period of nine months in a year .But the suggestion of the committee was not accepted due to the financial implication and practical difficulties .After one year in 1960, the government of India seriously thought about the idea and appointed K G Saiyidain to study how national service by student is being implemented in other countries .K G Saiyidain submitted his report to India government with the title ‘National service for youth’ .He suggested some recommendations for the build up of an effective student based national service .Due to the influence of all these committees ,the Education commission headed by Dr D S Kothari strongly support the formation of a student based national service organization .The conference of education ministers of the states held in April 1967 consider this opinion and suggested a new program called NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME . The vice chancellors conference held in September 1969 welcomed the program and suggested a special committee of vice chancellors for a detailed study. This manual based student social service is included in national policy on education of government of India as an integral part education. In May 1969, a conference of the student representatives of the universities and institutions of higher education convened by the ministry of education and UGC, unanimously opinioned that the NSS could be a powerful instrument for national integration. The planning commission sanctioned 5 crores for NSS in their fourth five year plan and NSS program started as a pilot project in selected institutions and universities .In SEPT 24, 1969 union education minister Dr V K R V Rao launched NSS officially in 37 universities covering all over the states .Now NSS is spread all over India and it is biggest student member organization in India .Now +2 level is also included in it.
Motto and Aim
NSS has a meaningful motto –“NOT ME BUT YOU “this gives the fundamental ethical concept of NSS. NSS motto give the massage that we always give care and consideration to our fellow beings.
NSS aimed for a better India, to mold socially committed and morally valuable students .Also NSS aimed student personality development through social service .The voluntaries learn the suffering of villagers and how they lead a happy life in these sufferings ,these make the student to became experienced citizens.
STRUCTURE OF NSS
Each state has an NSS coordinator who controlled the activities; also each University was later assigned with an NSS coordinator. Every college contains a 20-40 student member NSS unit .A teacher (program officer) should co ordinate the activities in every institution. Also every unit contains two or three student voluntary secretaries who lead the students. The NSS units are active in conducting camps, cultural programs, social activities etc….
