Regular activities, special camps and the national days we observe throughout the year.
NSS volunteers generally work in villages, slums and voluntary agencies to complete 120 hours of regular activities during an academic year. As per the fundamental principles of National Service Scheme, a volunteer is expected to remain in constant touch with the community. Hence, it is of vital importance that a particular village/slum is selected for implementation of NSS programmes. As the NSS volunteer is to live with the members of the community during the 7 days Special Camping Programme and learn from their experience during his/her tenure in NSS, the village/slum should be carefully selected for adoption by NSS unit.
Adoption of a village and area is a very meaningful programme in NSS. It is far better to concentrate attention on one village and take up the task for development perspective, than to fritter away energy in many locations involving too many activities which may not be completed at all or where the follow up action may not be possible. From this point of view, village adoption programme should ensure continuity of work vis-a-vis sustained action, evaluation and follow up work.
Contacting Village/Area Leaders:
As a first step in this programme, it is necessary to establish contact with more than one village which would help to select a village where 'Leadership' is well established. In other words, selecting a village with proper leadership is very important as the sustained follow up action and evaluation is ensured in such places. To start with, the NSS unit can take the help of the Block Authorities, District Panchayat Officer, District Tribal Welfare Officer, District Medical Officer, Extension Officer of Agriculture, Irrigation and Education Departments for the selection of the village. It is to be noted that the selected villages should be within a short distance from the college so that constant contact can easily be made.
Survey of the Village/Area:
Before drawing up the plan of action, it is absolutely necessary to conduct a comprehensive survey of few villages situated at a short distance from the college. The assistance from the teachers and students of agriculture, economics, commerce, geography, statistics, home science, social work, medicine, psychology and education etc. have to be sought for the purpose. Conducting socio-economic survey can be an interesting field activity which has direct bearing on the curriculum of economics, commerce, statistics, psychology, health education etc. The report of such a survey will provide up-to-date information about the problems and potentials of the village and help in programme planning for village development. The applied field work will help the students to increase their analytical ability and deepen their thinking. Further, this will help them to identify the problems which have been left unnoticed. The survey work can also be accomplished with the help of PRA exercises (Participatory Rural Appraisal).
Identification of Problem(s):
It is on the basis of this need assessment that projects/programmes are to be formulated. The programme officers should use their discretion and should identify the projects which can be completed by seeking assistance from the communities/other agencies.
The aim of adoption of village or area is to give new ideas of development to the villagers which would improve their living conditions. Once the trust of the communities is won, they start cooperating with the NSS volunteers and approach them for solution of their problems. One of the important services that can be rendered by NSS volunteers is disseminating information about the latest developments in agriculture, watershed management, wastelands development, non-conventional energy, low cost housing, sanitation, nutrition and personal hygiene, schemes for skill development, income generation, government schemes such as Swachch Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, Accessible India, Digital India, Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao, Environment and Energy Conservation and Education, legal aid, consumer protection and allied field.
The Programme Officers (PO) should motivate the communities to involve themselves with NSS for the community development work undertaken by the NSS unit. Further he or she will have to seek the help of various government departments and agencies for technical advice and financial assistance. Therefore, he/she must establish good rapport with the government officials and development agencies. For this, it is better if the administration is taken into confidence by prior consultations.
Completion of Projects:
As already stated, the Programme Officer must select the projects very carefully as the image of NSS depends upon the successful completion of such projects. Successful completion of the projects can win appreciation and credit of the community.
Evaluation of Project:
Every project should be evaluated after its completion by involving members of the community, Government officials and Panchayat officials. The NSS unit should learn from the lapses in the execution of the project and plan for the next project keeping in view the bottlenecks and constraints faced by them during the earlier project.
Most of the colleges and universities are usually located in the urban areas. Due to long distance between the college campuses and the villages, the visits to the adopted villages by the NSS volunteers may become expensive and time consuming. In view of this, it is desirable to adopt slum especially by colleges located in urban areas.
Survey of the Slum:
For adoption of a slum, there should be composite survey team consisting of students drawn from faculties like Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Home Science and Social Work etc. The selected areas should be compact and should be easily accessible for students. Areas with acute political conflicts may be avoided. The issues pertaining to the identification of problems, project planning, interaction and coordination with the various departmental agencies, execution and completion of projects shall be undertaken on the same basis/lines as discussed earlier in the part 'Adoption of Villages'. The progress of projects should also be reviewed frequently.
Services in Slums:
The slum, tenements, Jhuggis and Jhoupris can be adopted by the NSS units with the aim of slum improvement. Under this, activities like providing water, water logging, sanitation, electricity, drainage, health and welfare services, life and living conditions, can be undertaken.
NSS volunteers for Slum Work:
Taking into account the living conditions and status of slum dwellers, only highly motivated, adaptable, mature and skilled students should be selected for slum development.
Tasks students can undertake in slum areas:
Suggestions for selection of slums:
The NSS unit has no financial resource of its own to implement programmes in adopted villages or slums, so it must closely coordinate with government agencies and voluntary organisations. Departments like forest, agriculture, adult education, health, and child welfare can render useful assistance, while adult education samitis, Nasha Bandi Boards, Yuva Mandals and Mahila Mandals provide additional support. Volunteers can be placed with welfare agencies considering their aptitudes, developing a sense of belonging with the people they work with.
Work opportunities with welfare institutions include:
NSS Programme Officers should plan village/slum activities so volunteers' leisure time serves the community — weekend visits build friendship between the NSS unit and the community, arranged through one-day camps and frequent visits under regular activities.
Special Camping forms an integral part of the National Service Scheme. It has special appeal to youth as it provides unique opportunities for group living, collective experience sharing and constant interaction with the community.
Special campings are organised generally on developmental issues of national importance — themes have included 'Youth Against Famine', 'Youth Against Dirt and Disease', 'Youth for Rural Reconstruction', 'Youth for Eco-Development', 'Youth for Mass Literacy', 'Youth for National Integration & Social Harmony', and 'Youth for Sustainable Development' with focus on watershed management and wasteland development. Every year 50 percent of volunteers of each NSS unit are expected to participate in special camps of seven days duration.
Contributions of Special Camping Programme
Concerted efforts over a number of years are needed for reconstruction activities in rural areas and urban slums to improve living conditions of weaker sections. Universities, colleges and +2 institutions play a special role here in collaboration with other departments and local authorities, adopting a village or group of villages/urban slums for intensive development, organising special camps year after year to create durable community assets.
Objectives of the Special Camping Programme
The aim of the Regular and Special Camping Programme is to bring youth face to face with the community and improve their lives. NSS volunteers devote about 80 hours to Regular Activities for the development of the adopted village, while Special Camping offers a 7-day opportunity to live with the community and experience their conditions. Some broad areas of activity are listed below.
These programmes help students understand and share the agonies of people affected by cyclones, floods, earthquakes etc., working alongside them and assisting local authorities in relief and rehabilitation. Volunteers can be involved in:
The above is only an illustrative list. Each NSS unit is free to undertake any of these or other activities suited to local needs, aiming at integrated development of the adopted village or slum, ensuring at least part of the programme involves manual work.
