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National Service Scheme (NSS) Day

(September 24)

Dr.P.K.Manoharan
Recipient of TWO |NSS Awards from Govt. of Tamilnadu
Additional Registrar, VIT University, Chennai

The National Service Scheme (NSS) was formally

launched on 24th September 1969. The programme was started
during the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of
the Nation, who inspired the Indian youth to participate in the
movement for Indian Independence and the social upliftment of
the downtrodden masses.
Every year 24th September is
celebrated as NSS Day with appropriate programmes and
activities.
History of NSS
In India, the idea of involving students in the task of nation building dates back to the
times of Mahatma Gandhi. The first duty of the students should be, not to treat their period
of study for indulging in intellectual activity, but to prepare themselves for final dedication,
in the service of the society.
The University Grants Commission headed by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan recommended
the introduction of national service in the academic institutions on a voluntary basis with a
view to develop healthy contents between the students and teachers on the one hand and
establish a constructive link between the campus and the community on the other hand.
In 1958, the then Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru in his letter to the Chief
Ministers, mooted the idea of having social service as a pre-requisite for graduation and
directed the Ministry of Education to formulate a suitable scheme for the introduction of
national service in the academic institutions.
In 1959, a draft outline of the scheme was placed before the Education Ministers
conference. The conference unanimously felt the urgent need for a workable scheme of
national service to supplement with programs to arouse interest in social and economic
reconstruction of the country.

To realize the objective of the scheme, it was decided to integrate social service with
the educational process and led to the appointment of National Service Committee under the
leadership of Dr.C.D.Desmukh on August 28, 1959. The Committee recommended that
national service for a period of nine months in a year be made compulsory for all students
completing high school education and intending to enroll themselves in a college / university.
The Education Commission headed by Dr.D.S.Kothari (1964-66) recommended that
students at all stages of education should be associated with some form of social service. In
April 1967, the State Education Ministers Conference recommended that at the University
stage, students could be permitted to join the National Cadet Corps (NCC) that was already
in existence on a voluntary basis and an alternative could be offered in the form of a new
programme called the National Service Scheme (NSS). On September 24, 1969, the then
Union Minister Dr.V.K.R.V.Rao launched the NSS Programme.
The NSS aims at the involvement, mainly of undergraduate students, on a voluntary
basis, in various activities of social serviced and national development, which, while making
a contribution to socio-economic progress, would also provide opportunities to the students
to understand and appreciate the problems of the communities, awaken social consciousness
and inculcate in them the sense of dignity of labour.
Basics of NSS: NSS plays a vital role in academic expansion. The spirit of self-less service
is inculcated among the students and NSS Programme Officers through sustained community
interactions. It is said that Service to Man is Service to God and NSS provides
opportunities for preparing the students for commitment in the service of the community and
ultimately service to God.
Objectives: The main objective of NSS is personality development of the students through
community services.
The specific Objectives are

to provide a variety of learning experience

to develop a sense of participation, service and achievement among the volunteers

to emphasize dignity of labour and self-help and the need for combining physical
work and intellectual perspectives
to develop a sense of social and civic responsibility

to develop capacity to meet emergencies and national disaster

to acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude

to identify the needs and problems of community and involve them in problem
solving process
to practice national integration and social harmony

to encourage students and non-students to work together along with the adults in rural
areas.

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NSS Motto: The motto or watchword of the NSS is NOT ME BUT YOU. This reflects the
essence of democratic living and upholds the need for self-less service. It emphasizes that
the welfare of an individual ultimately leads to the welfare of the society.
NSS Symbol: The symbol of NSS is based on the Rath wheel of the Konark Sun temple of
Orissa. The wheels represent the cycle of creation, preservation and release and signify the
movement in life across time and space. It also implies the continuous striving of volunteers
for the social transformation and upliftment.
NSS Badge: The NSS symbol is embossed on the NSS badge. The NSS volunteers wear it
while undertaking various programmes of community service. The eight bars of the Konark
wheel represent 24 hours of the day. The red colour indicates that the volunteers are full of
blood i.e., lively, active, energetic and full of high spirit. The navy blue colour stands for the
cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the
mankind.
NSS is striving to make NSS the third dimension of higher education. NSS is working for
integrated development of adopted villages and slums through its regular and special
camping programmes. This will develop youth to make the fruits of education and
technology reaches the weaker sections of the society.
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