The National Service Scheme (NSS) was launched at the National Level on 24th September, 1969 on the birth centenary of Mahatama Gandhi by Central Education Minister Dr.V.K.Rao. NSS aims at the development of personality of the youth through community service. NSS Volunteers focus on understanding the needs and problems of community and involve themselves in solving the problems thereby developing a sense of social and civic responsibility. The motto of NSS “NOT ME BUT YOU” reflects the need of selfless service and the essence of democratic living. Students,community and teachers are considered to be the three basic components of NSS. One NSS unit comprises of 100 volunteers, headed by a Programme Officer, who is a lecturer in the institution. Programme Officer should be the role model for the NSS volunteers andcommunity by providing necessary leadership to the volunteers. At present Lilonghaoreibi college has two NSS units, UNIT-1 and UNIT-2 comprising of 100 volunteers each. The volunteers of the two units had been involving at different activities from time to time.
In Manipur the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports Government of Manipur has been implementing the scheme since 1980 through Manipur University, the affiliated colleges and different higher secondary schools throughout the State. Transferring the responsibility of implementing the scheme and financial management of NSS to Manipur University from the year 1989 onwards, the University has extended the scheme to its affiliated college by opening 45 units with a total strength of 4,500 student volunteers in 33 colleges and 2 units in the University. From1992 the Directorate of YAS Govt. of Manipur has been implementing the scheme by way of distributing the NSS fund to the Principals of the colleges. NSS activities have been diverted into two major groups. These are regular activities and special camping programme.
Regular activities: Under this, students undertake various programmes in the adopted villages, university/college/school campuses and urban slums during weekends or after college hours. Regular campingshould be a day programme for 1 to 4 hours depending on work to be organised at the adopted village, collegecampus, hospital, localmarket, orphanage and old age home etc. Activities include blood donation, tree plantation, awareness programmes, cleanliness campaign etc.
Flagship programme of Government under regular activities include:
- SWACCH BHARAT MISSION
- TAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN
- EK BHARAT SHRESTH BHARAT
- MISSION INDRADHANUSH.
Special Camping Programme: Under this programme camps of seven days duration are organised in adopted villages or urban slums during summer vacations or winter vacations with some specific projects by involving local communities. Out of the total, at least 50 per cent NSS volunteers are expected to participate in these camps. Special camping programme is a residential camp for seven days. A volunteer must attend the special camp of seven days within two years of volunteer ship. Special camping programme forms an integral part of National Services Scheme. It has special appeal to the youth as it provides unique opportunities to the students for group living, collective experience sharing andinteraction with the community.
The activities to be undertaken during special camping are:
- Environment enrichment and conservation
- Health, family welfare and nutrition programme
- Social service programme
- Relief and rehabilitation during natural calamities
- Education and recreation
The students participating in this programme and activities contribute a lot to bring communal harmony, national integration, unity and peace in the country wherein exists extensive diversities and differences in languages, religion, tradition and cultural background. The importance of NSS in educational institution should be made aware by imparting knowledge to the student community by the concerned authorities. Therefore, the role of principal nodal officer (SNO) and programme officer (PO) has a key role to execute this works properly.
How to become a NSS student Volunteer
Any interested student admitted in the college is eligible to become an NSS student volunteer on first come first serve basis to constitute two units of NSS. For this the student’s name has to be recommended by one of the Programme officers of the Institution in the volunteer lists submitted to State Nodal Officer and Co-ordinator NSS Cell, Manipur University.
Programme Officers of NSS, LilongHaoreibi College:
- Dr Md. Riyajuddin Khan, Associate Professor, Department of Botany.
- Dr Th. UmabatiChanu, Assistant Professor, Department of English.