NSS Camp

The National Service Scheme is an Indian government sponsored public service programme conducted by the Ministry of youth affairs and Sports of the government of India. Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Gandhiji’s centenary year in 1969. Aimed at developing student’s personality through community service, NSS is a voluntary association of young people in colleges.

The programme aims to instill the idea of social welfare in students, and to provide service to society without bias. NSS volunteers work to ensure that everyone who is needy gets help to enhance their standard of living and lead a life of dignity. In doing so, volunteers learn from people in villages how to lead a good life despite a scarcity of resources. It also provides help in natural and man-made disaster by providing food, clothing and first aid to the disaster’s victims.

At national level, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India is the nodal authority, which works with state-level NSS cells. State-level NSS cells are responsibility of the respective state governments. Within states, each university has University level NSS cell under which institutions (schools and colleges) based NSS units operate. Most government and government-aided institutions have volunteer NSS units. They are managed internally by a responsible party from the school or college, who reports to the regional NSS coordinator.

Activites

There are two types of activities : Regular Activities(120 hours) and Annual Special Camp(120 hours). All the NSS Volunteers who have served NSS for at least 2 years and have performed 240 hours of work under NSS are entitled to a certificate from the university under the signature of the Vice-Chancellor and the Programme Coordinator. The Annual camps are known as Special Camps. 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:

1. Cleaning
2. Afforestation
3. Stage shows or a procession creating awareness of such issues as social problems, education and cleanliness
4. Awareness Rallies
5. Inviting doctors for health camps

There are no predefined tasks, it is left up to the volunteers to provide service in any way that is feasible. Camps typically last between a week and 7 days, although camps for shorter periods are also conducted by NSS.