REGULAR ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL CAMPING PROGRAMME UNDER NSS IN DEGREE COLLEGES: A STUDY Rajalakshmi Das1, Ph.D. Reader in Education, Radhanath I.A.S.E., Cuttack, Odisha Sarat Chandra Sahoo2, Research Scholar in Education, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Abstract The present investigation aims to study the regular activities and special camping programme undertaken by NSS volunteers in degree colleges. A sample of 80 Programme Officers and 640 NSS Volunteers of 40 degree colleges affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar participated in the study. The study revealed that as many as 15 regular activities were organized such as cleaning works, health awareness, tree plantation, sanitation, environmental awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness, road repair, blood donation and eradication of illiteracy under NSS. Under Special Camping Programme of NSS plantation of trees, cleaning work, health camp, repair and construction of roads, sanitation work, women empowerment programme, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and HIV/AIDS awareness were organized in communities.. Key words: National Service Scheme, Regular Activities, Special Camping Programme Introduction National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Government Sponsored Scheme operating in the affiliated colleges of the Universities/Council of Higher Secondary Education in collaboration with the state government. It is a noble experiment in academic expansion. It was launched in 1969 on the birth centenary of Gandhiji, who conceived the idea of involving youth in constructive social service. The response of students to the scheme has been quite encouraging. Starting with an enrollment of 40,000 students in 1969, the coverage of NSS students in India increased to 32.25 lakh in 2011-12 (Annual Report SEPT-OCTOBER, 2014. VOL-II/XIV
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2011-12). Starting with an enrollment of 600 volunteers in 1969, the NSS students in Odisha increased to 99,000 in 2013-14 (Annual Report 2013-14.). NSS
activities
have
been
divided into two major groups. These are NSS Regular Activities and Special Camping Programme. The aim of the NSS Regular and Special camping programme is to bring youth face to face with the community and make efforts to improve their life. Under the NSS Regular Activity, students undertake various programme in the adopted villages, college/school campuses, and urban slums during weekends or after college hours to complete 120 hours during an academic year. Out of 120 hours, 20 hours is meant for orientation of NSS volunteers through lectures, discussions, field visit and audio-visuals, 30 hours is meant for campus work project involved for the benefit of institution and college students and 70 hours for community service in adopted village/urban slums. Under Special Camping Programme, camps of 7 days duration are organized in adopted villages or urban slums during vacations with some specific projects by involving local communities. Special Camps are organized generally on various developmental issues of national importance. The current theme of special camping is “Healthy Youth for Healthy India”, (NSS Manual2006). Every year 50 per cent of the volunteers of each NSS unit are expected to participate in special camps. The focus of the special camps may change periodically and regular programmes are organized in response to the community needs at the micro-level. Some broad areas of activities are:
Environment enrichment and conservation
Health, family welfare and nutrition programme
Awareness pogrammes for improvement of the status of women
Social service programmes
Production oriented programmes
Relief and rehabilitation work during natural calamities.
Education and recreations The cardinal principle of the scheme is that it is organized by the students
themselves and both students and teachers through their combined participation in social service get a sense of involvement in the task of national development.
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The NSS Bureau was established in the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in 1969 with a total strength of 300 student volunteers and today NSS student volunteers’ strength is increased to 23,500 (Annual Report, 2013-14). The NSS Bureau has been continuously involving students and teachers of the affiliated colleges for the NSS Regular Activities and Special Camping Programme. The paper highlights the Regular Activities and Special Camping Programme undertaken by the NSS Volunteers in degree colleges affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Review of Related Studies: The studies in the area of NSS are of recent origin compared to researches in other areas of education. Mohapatra (1985) conducted a critical study of the impact of NSS on the attitude of college students. The study revealed that NSS programme attracted more male volunteers than females. Ignorance of the aims and objectives of the scheme by a significant number of respondents revealed that the publicity aspect of the scheme was invariably weak. Hans and Vadhyar (1988) found that the NSS volunteers showed a significant gain in knowledge on the subject after the training. The study by Chandrasekhar and Vishweshwar (2000) revealed that the students of arts and social sciences scored higher on the attitude towards NSS and scores on social integration. Dilshad (2001) found that the release of funds was a big problem in NSS. Suresh (2002) found that there was positive relationship between the role expectations of NSS and the role perceptions of the Programme Officers. Lokhande (2006) attempted to study the impact of NSS programme on the NSS volunteers and community at large. The study revealed that the impact of NSS activities on NSS volunteers was a considerable upward rise in selfconfidence, communication skills, social commitment, problem solving skills in personal and public life. It was observed by Ghorpade (2008) that the success of the NSS special camps mainly depended on the role of a college principal. The study undertaken by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in 2008-09 revealed that non-performances of NSS were largely due to the weakness in the regular activities. Some colleges did not have NSS Advisory Committee which affected the proper planning and implementation of various activities. Supervision, monitoring and evaluation were found to be the weakest component of this scheme. Swain and Das (2011) in their study highlighted the need of research studies in the area of NSS in colleges and Universities. Swain (2012) in his study found that almost all (100 per SEPT-OCTOBER, 2014. VOL-II/XIV
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cent) the Programme Officers and volunteers stated some problems in the organisation of NSS activities which include: Lack of finance, non-cooperation of Principals, noncoperation of community members, problem of cooking food for NSS volunteers and improper guidance to students for carrying out different NSS activities. Mohanty (2013) highlighted that the NSS Unit realized two major problems of sensitizing youth towards social service at the grass root level functioning due to lack of initiatives of the college authority in motivating the youth towards NSS, and proper orientation of the volunteers in managing NSS Project activities. Review of related studies indicate that very few researches have been conducted on NSS in India in general and Odisha in particular. Most of the researches conducted on NSS have a restricted geographical coverage. There is a need for indepth research studies in the area of NSS. So the present study is both desirable and unique. Objectives of the Study: The study has the following objectives: 1. To study the regular activities undertaken by NSS Volunteers in Degree Colleges. 2. To study the activities carried out under special camping programme by NSS Volunteers in Degree Colleges. 3. To suggest measures for the successful organization of regular activities and special camping programme of NSS in degree colleges. Method: Descriptive Survey Method was used for the conduct of the present study. Sample: The sample of the present study was confined to 80 NSS Programme Officers and 640 NSS Volunteers of 40 degree colleges affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Out of 266 degree colleges of Utkal University spread over 9 districts, 40 degree colleges were selected randomly from 5 districts. From each college, 2 NSS Programme Officers and 16 NSS Volunteers were selected through the method of purposive sampling. Finally, 80 NSS Programme Officers and 640 NSS Volunteers were selected for the study. The sample consisted of both male and female Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers. Tools Used: The following tools were developed and used by the investigators for collection of data. 1. Questionnaire for NSS Programme Officers 2. Questionnaire for NSS Volunteers Main Findings: The following are the main findings of the study: SEPT-OCTOBER, 2014. VOL-II/XIV
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As many as 15 different NSS Regular Activities were organized in degree colleges of Utkal University. Almost all the Programme Officers (100 per cent) and NSS Volunteers (100 per cent) stated that the NSS regular activities were being organized in the college campuses and in the communities.
More than 77 per cent of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers stated that regular activities like: Cleaning works (roads, ponds, wells), health awareness, tree plantation, (in college and community), road repair and sanitation work were being organized under NSS.
More than 69 per cent of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers reported that environmental awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness, blood donation and eradication of illiteracy were being organized under regular activities of NSS.
NSS Volunteers had also performed certain other regular activities like: mother and child care, population education and campaign against dengue under NSS.
More than 39 per cent of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers stated that regular activities of awareness programme on drug abuse, campaign against social evils and pulse-polio programme were organized under NSS.
As many as 11 different activities were organized under special camping programme of NSS in degree colleges.
Almost all the Programme Officers (100 per cent) and NSS Volunteers (100 per cent) stated that special camping programmes were organized in the communities.
NSS activities like plantation of trees, cleaning works (roads, ponds, wells) health camp (health check-up, free Eye operation) repair and construction of roads were under taken under the Special Camping Programme as mentioned by more than 73 per cent of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers.
More than 62 per cent of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers stated that NSS Volunteers participated in the activities such as: sanitation work, women empowerment programme, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and HIV/AIDS awareness programme under special camping programme.
Mental health and yoga education, internship programme for youth and disaster management programme were also being organized under NSS in more than 46 per cent of colleges.
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Educational Implications: On the basis of the findings of the study, the following suggestions may be given for the successful organization of NSS regular activities and special camping programme in Degree Colleges of Utkal University.
With the growing importance of National Service Scheme, certain physical facilities are essential. It is, therefore, suggested that the Principal of the Institutions may provide a separate room with furniture and other services for the NSS Unit. Similarly, the colleges are required to provide necessary facilities for the storage of NSS materials and equipments.
The articles /materials purchased out of NSS fund may be stored separately and used for NSS purpose only.
Some special activities like care of animal health, water literacy and wasteland development, national integration and social harmony, employment and livelihood may be undertaken during NSS regular and special camping programme.
More activities need to be undertaken in respect to health, education and environment protection.
More follow-up action is needed regarding the preservation and protection of planted trees.
The Programme Officers may plan the NSS regular activities and special camping programme as per programme guidelines issued by the Government of India and Programme Co-ordinator of the Utkal University.
The orientation of NSS Volunteers may be conducted in a befitting manner and 20 hours should be devoted to orient the NSS volunteers.
The amount of regular and special camping grant may be enhanced periodically by the Government of India. The NSS programme can be successfully organized only if funds released at various level in time.
The Programme Officers need to play the role of an organizer and educator, a coordinator, a supervisor, and administrator and public relation officer to improve the quality of NSS programme in his/her institution. They are expected to motivate the youth to understand the philosophy of NSS.
The Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers may maintain work diary regarding NSS regular and special camping programme.
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The Officers of NSS regional centre, Officers of the State Liaison Cell, and Programme Co-ordinator, NSS Bureau, Utkal University need to supervise both for regular activities and special camping programmes regularly.
Attendance of student volunteers at various session camps of NSS must be recorded and their signature must be obtained.
There is need of interaction of Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers with community people for the involvement of the community towards NSS regular and special camping programme.
Principals may co-operate effectively for the successful organization of NSS regular as well as special camping programme.
To ensure proper growth of NSS, it is essential to monitor the progress of activities in the filed. The NSS programme may be monitored constantly through field visits and meeting the key functionaries.
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Krishna, K.P. (1972). Participation in the NSS:. A Study in Differential Satisfaction. Published Document. Bombay: Tata Institute of Social Science. Lokhande, D. (2006). “A Study of Impact of National Service Scheme on College Students and Community.” Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Pune: University of Pune. Mohanty, M.K. (2013). “Sensitizing the Youth towards Social Service through NSS: Some Tips and Techniques,” TEEKA: Retrospect and Prospect – A Journal of Education, Vol. 2, No. 1 &2 , pp. 67-73. Mohapatra, P.C. (1985). “A Critical Study of the Impact of NSS on the Attitude of College Students”.Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis in Social Science. New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia. NCERT (2006). Sixth Survey of Educational Research.(1993-2000). Vol. I and II. New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and Training. Odisha, NSS Regional Centre (2014). Annual Report (2013-14). Bhubaneswar : NSS Regional Centre. Suresh, H.S. (2002). “Role of NSS Programme Officers in Effective Implementation of NSS – Problems and Perspective.” Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. Nanded: Swami Ramananda Teerth Marathwada University. Swain, B.C. (2012). “A Study on Implementation of NSS at College Level” ,The Ravenshaw Journal of Educational Studies, Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 59-66. Swain B.C. and Das, R. (2011). “Researches in National Service Scheme: A Review”, Vision – Research Journal of Education, Vol. II, No.1, pp. 18-23. Utkal University, NSS Bureau (2014). Annual Report (2013-14). Bhubaneswar: NSS Bureau.
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