NSS: NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

Motto: NOT ME BUT YOU

Inception: 24 September, 1969

The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Government of India sponsored public service program. It is conducted by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. The scheme was launched in 1969 which was also the centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi with the aim to shape the personality of the youth through community service.

The NSS is a voluntary association of students in colleges and universities and facilitates the campus- community linkage. The various programs under NSS focus on inculcating a sense of social welfare in students and to serve the society without any bias. NSS volunteers ensure that help reaches the needy. They learn from villagers how to lead a quality life despite scarcities and also provide help in natural and man- made disasters by providing food, clothes and first aid to the victims. Camps are held annually, funded by the government of India, and are usually located in a rural village or a city suburb. Volunteers may be involved in such activities as Cleaning, Afforestation, Stage shows or a procession creating awareness of such issues as social problems, education and cleanliness, Awareness rallies, Street plays, Blood camps, Inviting doctors for health camps etc. There are no predefined or preassigned tasks; it is left up to the volunteers to provide service in any way that is feasible. Camps typically last between a week and 10 days, although camps for shorter periods are also conducted by NSS.

The symbol for the NSS has been based on the giant Rath Wheel of the world famous Konark Sun Temple (The Black Pagoda) situated in Orissa, India. The wheel portrays the cycle of creation,preservation and release. It signifies the movement in life across time and space, the symbol thus stands for continuity as well as change and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social change. The eight bars in the wheel represent the 24 hours of a day. The red colour indicates that the volunteer is full of young blood that is lively, active, energetic and full of high spirit. The navy blue colour indicates the cosmos of which the NSS is tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.

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