Mottos of NCC and NSS:

Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Human Resource Development through the Ministry of Defence participated in the discussion which highlights and focuses on taking measures for strengthening the two units, The National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) as these two have tremendous impacts on the well-being of society and how by the means of these two units youth could be empowered through these institutions.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC)

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is the Indian military cadet corps with its Headquarters at New Delhi. It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis. National Cadet Corps is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens. The National Cadet Corps in India is a voluntary organization which recruits cadets from high schools, colleges and Universities all over India. The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades and are given preference over its candidates during selections based on the achievements in the corps.

National Service Scheme (NSS)

The National Service Scheme (NSS) is an Indian government-sponsored public service program conducted by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Gandhiji’s Centenary year, 1969. This scheme is aimed at developing student’s personality through community service. The NSS Activities in College Premises is inaugurated in the year 2002 and it is functioning efficiently through NSS Volunteers from Various Departments.

In a bid to address issues such as "manpower deficiency" in the NCC and NSS, the government has decided to form a committee under former education secretary Anil Swarup, seeking suggestions to revamp and strengthen the two youth institutions. It is said that this Committee will deal with issues like expansion, strengthening training infrastructure, rationalising resources, reducing manpower deficiency affecting NCC and NSS (National Service Scheme). The Committee will also submit recommendations for building "synergy" between these two institutions. It is to be mentioned that at present, there are 13.5 lakh cadets in NCC in the age group of 12 to 26 years with pan India presence in about 703 out of 716 districts.

Objectives of NCC and NSS:

“Serve the downtrodden in the society” and “Personality Development through Community Service”.

Mottos of NCC and NSS:

The mottos of NCC and NSS are “UNITY AND DISCIPLINE” and “NOT ME BUT YOU” respectively. Unity means the oneness, irrespective of the caste, color or creed. Discipline is the basic quality needed for all the youths of this Nation. The NCC Units of schools and colleges have scopes to arrange NCC camps to make the people trained in the services of parades and military training in small arms. Along similar lines “NOT ME BUT YOU” signifies that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of the society as a whole. This manifests the essence of democratic living and upholds the need of selfless service and appreciation of the other man’s point of view and also consideration for fellow human beings.

Duties of NCC and NSS volunteers:

1. Establish rapport with the people in the project area.

2. Identify needs, problems and resources of the community.

3. Plan programs and carry out the plan.

4. Relate learning experience towards finding solutions to the problem identified.

5. Record the activities in the work diary systematically and assess the progress periodically and effect changes as and when needed.

Proposed Activities of the Volunteers of NCC and NSS:

1. Identification of the adopted villages/slum areas.

2. Awareness drives through youth rallies, street plays, exhibition, skits highlighting success stories by way of traditional folk art and media.

3. Community participation by involving member of the adopted villages and local institutions.

4. Duration of the NSS special camps will be 7 days and the volunteers will have to stay overnight in the camp.

5. Organizing day camps on the theme at the adopted villages on the weekends.

6. Renewable Energy awareness programmes.

7. Technological training for self-help groups and rural youths.

8. Traffic control during festival occasions.

9. Collection of clothes for distribution to the people below poverty line.

10. Visits to orphanages/Old age homes/ Blind schools and feeding.

11. Creation of awareness of Rain Water Harvesting.

12. Mass tree plantation (one student one tree).

13. Organizing veterinary camp.

Amenities of NCC and NSS:

1. Having NCC and NSS Certificates, students can attain some opportunities in the sectors of Army.

2. There are reservations in many sectors of State government.

3. Students can attain large number of NCC cadets eligible for scholarships.

4. Many private industries give preferences to NCC “C” certificate holders for various jobs.

5. NCC develops all round confidence and responsibility.

6. The students have to understand themselves the relation between them and the community.

7. Identify the needs and problems of the community and can solve them.

8. Students can develop their social and civic responsibilities.

9. Students can improve their leadership qualities.

10. Students can practice the activities of doing National integration.

11. Students can develop their social harmony skills.

Moreover, there are lot of privileges and concessions also for that. There are about 13,380 cadets and 223 institutions throughout the country. They provide a chance to young people to experience how life is in the security services of the country. Out of the total strength of NCC in the country, they select a few of them and made them to participate in the parades of the Nation. They are not recruiting organizations, but though 40% of the graduating cadets find themselves in the security services. The Army, Airforce and Navy have separate cohorts for the NCC and NSS.