National Service Scheme (NSS)
The National Service Scheme is the real third dimension of Higher Education System close to social realities and community concern i.e., developing a living link with community by the institution of higher learning helps in marching towards the prosperity of the mankind. The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a government sponsored public service program conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India.
History
In year 1958, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took initiative and advised the academicians to suggest the programme to involve student youth in social service activities. Popularly known as NSS, the scheme was launched in Mahatma Gandhi’s Centenary year on 24th September 1969which aimed at developing student’s personality through community service. In May 1969, a conference of student representatives (of universities and institutions of higher education), convened by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission, unanimously agreed that a national level service scheme could be an instrument for national integration.
Motto
The Motto of NSS “Not Me But You” is a sense of expression of the essence of democratic living and upholds the need for selfless service and appreciation of the other man’s point of view and also to underline that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of society as a whole. 24th September is celebrated every year as NSS Day with great enthusiasm and pride.
NSS in Arihant College, Pune
NSS unit of Arihant College was established in 2012. Presently, the NSS unit of Arihant College, Pune, affiliated with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) consists of 1500 volunteers. The main aim of NSS unit in Arihant College is to contribute to the wellbeing of the society in various fields and sectors. It also aims at developing the personality of young minds through community service who will later serve as citizens aiming for a better tomorrow. National Service Scheme unit of Arihant College functions in a distinctive manner with six different groups operating in various sectors aiming at public welfare and personality development of the volunteers. The activities of NSS always encourages volunteers to understand community, to imbibe good relationship with society, national integration and to increase awareness about social issues. With utter zeal and enthusiasm, the work continues to serve the society throughout the year. Various activities such as elocution, poster making competitions, debates, blood donation camp, interactive sessions for students, tree plantation programme, cleanliness drive and street plays helps the NSS unit to reach the society through every way possible.
NSS Program Officer
- Nilesh Sarwade (Assistant Professor, Department of Arts & Humanities)
- Pranali Deshmukh (Assistant Professor, Department of Science and Technology)
Following are the 6 groups of NSS unit of Arihant College which works distinctively in consonance with their aims:
1.) Nisarg
2.) Warsa
3.) Aarogya
4.) Sanskar
5.) Police mitra
6.) Swachhta
Aim
To protect natural resources, focusing on creating awareness regarding environmental issues and imbibing the importance of natural resources among students.
Work –
The work of nisarg mainly focuses on motivating the students to keep their surroundings green and clean by undertaking plantation of trees. Promoting ethos of conservation of water by optimizing the use of water. Organizing seminars, debates, lectures and popular talks on environmental issues in the college to motivate the students to have a deeper understanding of environmental issues. Organizing Tree plantation programmes, awareness programmes such as quiz, essay, painting competitions, rallies, nukkad natak etc. which will make them realize the importance of environment. Field visits to environmentally important sites including polluted and degraded sites, wildlife parks, etc. are also arranged to make students practically aware about the concerns.
Aim
To learn about and preserve the monumental wonders and spread admirable values of ethnic culture of India among the students.
Work –
Legacy, of places and art forms that represent the rich and ethnic culture of our glorious country is maintained. Several Treks, cleanliness drives in places of importance, pertaining to the history of that place and thus preserving the ‘Warsa’. The main objectives include preserving our culture and letting the new generations know and wonder about the glorious past.
Aim –
To build an inwardly and substantially strong society and provide medical facilities to the deprived section.
Work –
Aarogya exclusively works towards the health sector. Number of activities are carried out. These activities are aimed at eradication of misconceptions regarding various diseases. It also focuses on encouraging the youth to come forward in number of social activities such as blood donation, stem cell donation through street plays and educating people regarding new techniques such as stem cell donation. Visiting hospitals for a better understanding of the working of health organizations and experiencing the grievances of the affected people is also carried out.
Aim –
To educate the underprivileged and widen the scope of knowledge and learning.
Work –
The group works for cultivation of love for education among students. It strives towards building of a bright nation by applying acquired knowledge with conscience. It tries to enhance the creativity of students through variety of activities. Excellence is a combination of education and moral values and spreading such synchronized moral education is promoted.
Aim –
To encourage young blood to construct a better society and serve the community during catastrophe.
Work –
As the name suggests ‘friend of Police.’ The objectives and aims range from labour donation to strengthening the youth forces to personality development. To teach the values of standing together in times of need and of servitude. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s preaching, the youth stands together, tougher and even more humble to lend service to the society.
Aim –
To encourage young blood to construct a better society and serve the community during catastrophe.
Work –
The objectives and aims range from labour donation to strengthening the youth forces to personality development. To teach the values of standing together in times of need and of servitude. Cleaning events or drive we arrange.
Cleanliness drive:-
This Program exclusively focuses on cleaning the environment not only in the campus but also outside the campus. A cleanliness drive is organized on every possible occasion through which it is observed that the campus remains clean.
Blood Donation Camp:-
A Blood Donation camp is organized every year. This activity aims at spreading the awareness about blood donation among the students as well as the importance of stem cell donation, also clearing the misconceptions among many people regarding blood donation.
Winter Camp: –
“Real India lies in its villages” as said by Mahatma Gandhi. For national reconstruction it is very important for the student youth, to be properly sensitized and utilized for strengthening the Indian society as a whole with particular emphasis on rural community and winter camp exactly focuses on the same. A seven-day camp where volunteers stay in a village which is designated by the government as an initiative to adopt the village so that volunteers can focus on the transformation of that village discretely. Under this camp the volunteers spend 7 days in the respective village and various kind of surveys are conducted through which they are able to learn the problems faced by the villagers and also suggest majors to tackle them. Various activities including cleanliness campaigns, encouraging villagers to take part in fun learning activities, teaching children in schools, eradication of false beliefs among the villagers, organizing seminars and interactive sessions regarding scientific techniques of farming are taken in this camp. The work does not stop here, NSS volunteers through surveys make sure that the problems should reach government and reforms take place. The Shramdaan in which volunteers themselves contribute to the physical labour. The work used to take place on a daily basis for minimum three hours which makes them understand the hard work taken by the farmers and helps them to gain a new perspective to develop an emotional intimacy and love towards the nation. Various other tasks like economic and social surveys, soil and water tests, free health check-ups, free guidance on law, surveys on the biodiversity of the village, cleanliness of the local water bodies, building farm dams are also carried out through Sharmdaan. Schools in the village are cleaned and plantation programme is conducted in which trees are mostly planted along roadside. Cultural activities including dramas, debates and various competitions help the volunteers to come out of their comfort zone and become a better version of themselves. Through this camp the volunteers learn about the village lifestyle, their grievances and most importantly India in its true sense.
National Service Scheme 2023-24
Blood Donation Camp
Arihant College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Camp, Pune-01, National Service scheme (NSS) and Sport Department in association with Tarpan blood bank, loni kalbhor has organised blood donation camp on 20/7/2023 from 10.00 am to 01.00 pm. In this camp, fifty-five students, ten teaching staff and non-teaching staff actively participated. Total 35 bottle of 350 ml blood were donated on that day. Breakfast and tea were provided to all the blood donors.
Historical Walk
On 12th September our NSS unit organized the historical walk which was led by the varsa group. We started this activity by moving from our college by bus and to our first place that was pataleshwar temple at 10:15. Constructed in the 8th century, the glorious Paraleshwar cave temple presents an iconic narration to the rich history of India. The temple is found in the epicentre of the city of Pune in Maharashtra. Carved out of a single rock, it is dedicated to the God of the underworld – Lord Pataleshwar.. After that we visited the badi darga many volunteers visited this place first time and it was just amazing. next we left the place and from there passing through the manapa bridge which is built by the British we visited the kasba peth to visit the tambat ali (Copper alley). Tambat Ali (Copper Alley) is a street that is alive from dawn until dusk with the constant hypnotic rhythmic sound of the beating of metal objects. This unique street is a neighbourhood in Pune where the traditional craft of moulding metal, specifically copper, into objects of everyday use has been practiced for centuries. Located in the densely packed narrow alleys of the old city, the current livelihood of the
Tambats (coppersmiths) is under threat from rapid urbanization and other pressures of growing industrialization. Next we saw the most famous dagdu sheth ganapati mandir and exact in front of that we saw the bhide Wada. Bhide Wada occupies a very important position in the societal development of Pune, especially for girl’s education. This is the site of one of the first schools for girls when it was taboo for them to study. Established by Savitribai Phule and Fatima Begum, this was not known to most of the volunteers. Next from there we went to the famous market in Pune Mahatma Phule mandai to know it’s history made in 18 century up of wood and other materials and still is as strong as it was at that time ..then we were given a break of 10 min to roam and see the place. then we started walking from there to Phule Vada we enjoyed walking through the roads in bunch of groups and without disturbing the surrounding and managing the traffic areas after we reached the Phule wada we took rest there and also saw the place where Savitribai Phule and mahatma Phule lived. Phule Wada is the residence of visionary reformer Mahatma Phule. The Wada is located in the Ganj Peth area, a few kilometers away from Pune station. This is the place where Mahatma Jyotirao Phule stayed with his wife Savitribai Phule for a certain period in his life. It was built in around 1852.Then we shared our whole day experience with Nilesh sir with cup of tea and biscuits under the big tree in Phule Vada. Then we started walking towards our college. we reached our college around 6:00 pm and then we took attendance and had our snacks. This activity was a successful activity without any mess and the management and the hard work by our Nilesh sir, our Cr’s and our group leaders.
Refreshment Distribution Camp
Arihant College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Camp, Pune-01, National Service scheme (NSS) We are so happy to share with you all that yesterday our NSS Unit organised REFRESHMENT DISTRIBUTION CAMP On the occasion of wari our NSS unit distributed 2000+ glass lemon sherbet and 1500+ Rajgira Ladoo for Warkari. And after that our volunteer did cleaning around campus.
NSS Foundation Day Programme
Arihant College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Camp, Pune 01 organized a Program on the occasion of NSS Foundation Day with Principal Dr. Kanchan Shinde Ma’am and Prof. Dr. Prabhakar Varade (NSS Coordinator, Pune City) , Mr. Abhishek Akotkar (Founder of Team Tarunai) Mr. Yunus Sayyed (a Cancer fighter , writer ,counselor) Mr. Sandip Bhise (Curret Sarpanch of Panavdi village) , and lastly Mr. Abasaheb Lole (Ex- Sarpanch of Panavdi village) at the Basement Classroom of the Junior College Building, opposite Burger King on 25th September 2023.
First when the guests arrived they were welcomed with a warm heart and wishes, they were given refreshments and then were addressed to the volunteers. The Host of the Program Namrata Choudhary started the program with a quote and asked the guests to start the program by watering the plant as a symbol of growth and prosperity. Our Principal Ma’am Dr. Kanchan Shinde was asked to Facilitate the guests as a token of appreciation for coming to the Program.
Then we had a dance performance (Ganesh Vandana) by our two volunteers Tanushree Shetty and Chinmayee Kale.
Dr. Kanchan Shinde Ma’am did speak a few words about NSS and also welcomed the guests from Arihant College’s side. Then our Program Officer Mr. Nilesh Sarwade were called up on the stage to give a brief introduction of the program and also the guests. Then we had Prize distribution of the winners on District Level under the Program “Meri Mati Mera Desh” by NSS, on College Level and also the participants of Pathanatya (Street play).
The guests were then one by one called up to speak for around 20 to 25 minutes about the topics they had decided and or given. First Prof. Dr. Prabhakar Varade were asked to speak in which he introduced the volunteers about many camps held under NSS and and also the advantages of being an active volunteer. Next we had Mr. Abhishek Akotkar who started with a song as he noticed that the volunteers were bored by seeing the PPT and also listening to Varade Sir so to bring a positive vibe from the audience he started singing and also asked the volunteers to sing along with him. He spoke on Society and change.
Last speaker/guest we had was Mr. Yunus Sayyed who is also a Cancer fighter he shared his experience about NSS during his college days and also how NSS has helped him be a better and responsible person of the society. He also shared his journey when he was hospitalized and how he overcame all the struggles. Last but not the least our Program ended with a Vote of Thanks by Parth Dave who mentioned in his speech a special thanks to all the guests, Principal Ma’am, P.O. Mr. Nilesh Sarwade and also the volunteers who helped in making the Program a success.
