NSS Foundation Day Celebrated Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Awards Presented

Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil, Minister of State of Youth Affairs & Sports said that National Service Scheme(NSS) is being improved with introduction of innovative content so as to enhance its relevance among youth of the country. He was addressing at a function organized to mark the 41st NSS Foundation Day here today. Shri Patil, emphasized the need to spread the scheme, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkand in view of the less enrolment of students under NSSfrom these States. He also lauded the role played by the NSS volunteers in various nation-building activities.

On the occasion, Shri Patil also distributed the awards under the Indira Gandhi National Saving Scheme to the Programme Coordinators, Programme Officers and NSS volunteers of colleges/schools for their contribution in the community service.

In his welcome address, Shri A.K. Upadhyay, Secretary, Youth Affairs, gave the total overview of the National Service Scheme and its achievements. He said that NSS volunteers with the enrolment of more than 32 lakh volunteer of various colleges and universities, it is the largest organized movement and one of the flagship programme of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

While addressing, Secretary, Sports, Smt. Sindhushree Khullar, said that NSS provides inspiration, volunteerism and make the youth good citizens. NSS volunteers are representing in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in a big way and the experience gained by them will be of immense value to the volunteers. She called upon volunteers working in the Commonwealth games not only to reflect the spirit of India but the core value of NSS also.

The awardees are

Programme Coordinator:

Dr. Sanjeet Kumar Gupta, Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh

Programme Officers:

1. Dr.Vibha Wadhwa, Sri Sathya Sai PG College for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan;

2. Ms. Archana, Shri LBS Arya Mahila College, Barnala, Punjab

3. Mr. G.V.S.Nageshwara Rao, Aditya Degree College,Rajamundhry, Andhra Pradesh.;

4. Mr.Bendangnungsang, PATKAI Christian College, Dimapur, Nagaland

5. Dr.Sharad Mahadev, Golande College of Agriculture, Pune,

Maharashtra; and 6. Dr.V. Alagar Ramanyam, Government Arts College, Ooty, Tamil Nadu

Volunteers

1. Sh. Rendla Srinivas, S.R.R. Government Degree College, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh.

2. Mr. Tage Ranka, St. Claret College, Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh.

3. Ms. Girisha Manohar Raikar, Damodar College of Commerce & Economics, Comba, Goa.

4. Mr. Rabari Vishnubhai Bhimabhai, Journalism Deptt., M.D. Mahavidyalaya, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

5. Mr. Sandesh Kumar B, Niranjan Swami College, Mangalore University. Karnataka.

6. Ms Shashirekha K.M. Maharaja’s Degree College, Mysore, Karnataka.

7. Mr. R. Sandeep, NSS College, Cherthala, Kerala University, Kerala.

8. Mr. Rajkumar Verma, Govt. Degree College, Timrali, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

9. Ms. Neha Jain, Govt. M.H. Home Science & Science Autonomous Women’s College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

10. Ms. Kasturi Apte, Kishinchand Chellaram College,Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

11. Ms. Palvy Dora Kharkongor, Shillong College, Boyce Road, NEHU, Meghalaya.

12. Mr. Hardev Singh, Guru Nanak College, Budhlada, Mansa, Punjabi University, Punjab.

13. Ms. Prasputita Nanda, Sri Sathya Sai PG College for Women, Jaipur, Rajasthan

14. Mr. M. Saravanan, Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

15. Ms. Preethi Priya Darshini, DG Vaishnav College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

16. Ms. Shivani Singh, Gramanchal Degree College, Barabanki, U.P.

BACKGROUND:-

National Service Scheme (NSS) is one of the Flag Ship Programmes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It has an enrolment of more than 32 lakh volunteers from various Colleges and Universities. The main objective of the scheme is to promote the personality of students through community service.

Under Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme Awards, there are three categories of awards. One award is conferred to recognize outstanding contribution of a NSS Cell in a University/+2 Council which has been operating NSS programme continuously for the last five years. Six awards are given to the best NSS Units and their Programme Officers of Colleges/Schools. Sixteen awards are presented to NSS student volunteers for their contribution in community service.

The award money has been doubled for all the three categories from the current year onwards. The University/ +2 Council level award, now carries a cash prize of Rs. 2,00,000/-, a certificate, a silver medal and a trophy. Six NSS units from various colleges across the country are awarded a cash prize of Rs. 70,000/- each and the Six Programme Officers representing these units are awarded Rs. 20,000/- each, a certificate and a silver medal. Sixteen awards are given away to NSS volunteers, who are presented with a cash prize of Rs. 15,000/- each, a certificate and a silver medal.

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RM/JL