Ng Mary Saza
Dimapur, March 20 (EMN): “We want change but we are not ready to change ourselves for it”. This may sound cliché, because, many a times, we preach about it and hear others do the same, but we all are guilty of not making it happen. Sadly, our society is witnessing a paradigm shift from socialism to individualism today mainly because of our adamant attitude towards change. I should say today’s youths are at the receiving end; they lack sense of social responsibility and many opt to live a life devoid of care for the community. Considering this shift, it is a MUST to provide our students an environment to instil the sense of commitment to the community to bring positive change in our society.
To bring this much-needed change, National Social Service (NSS) with the motto “Not Me but You” could play a vital role. This scheme upholds selfless service and consideration for fellow human beings as well as underlines the message that welfare of an individual ultimately depends on the welfare of the society as a whole. One of the main objectives of NSS is the development of students’ personality and responsibilities through community service. Today, many colleges and educational institutions have introduced the programme, providing students a platform to widen awareness, and to develop skills to exercise democratic leadership and knowledge about the social realities by engaging them in creative and constructive social work.
Why involve in NSS?
NSS volunteers are young students who represent the most dynamic and vibrant section of the society. Under the programme, they are given ample opportunity to interact with people across varied cultures. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS), GoI, conducts various camps like National Integration Camp, North East Youth Festivals, National Youth Festivals, Pre-Republic Camp, Republic Day Parade Camp-Delhi and International Cultural Exchange Programme. The sole objective of such camps is to create an environment where youths can learn to appreciate and respect other cultures and develop feelings of oneness.
I would like to mention an emotional moment witnessed during one such camps -- National Integration Camp-Kerala, 2018 – where volunteers from Kerala and Asufü Christian Institute (ACI) hugged and cried on the final day of the programme, perhaps their last meeting. They had known each other just for a few days, yet the bond developed between them seemed so strong despite the diversities. I can confidently say that “Oneness through NSS” sees no caste, tribe, religion and no gender. And so, the need of the hour is to provide more opportunities to students to explore, to embrace and to accommodate each other’s differences, which is possible through NSS.
Apart from this, NSS certificate holders have an advantage over those who are not enrolled in it. They are given extra marks in all of the entrance examinations for higher studies, though the added marks differ from university to university. This enables NSS volunteers to get admission in prestigious universities and avail scholarships- for their altruistic service to the community.
It may be mentioned that NSS volunteers of ACI devoted 100 hours (2018) and 50 hours (2019) of their selfless service to keep their surroundings and neighbouring villages clean under Swachh Bharat Summer Internship (SBSI). Through NSS-SBSI, the institute and Rabunamei village were declared “plastic-free zones”. Under the initiative of NSS, 30 street solar lamps have been installed at its adopted village Chowainu. Besides that, NSS also organises awareness programmes for students on social, health, environment and other issues. Realising the enormous impact the scheme could have on the society, the University Grants Commission issued a guideline to the vice-chancellors of various universities to institute NSS as one of the credit-base elective subjects for the benefit of students in 2015.
We can encourage the young students to get involved in NSS and be a catalyst to bring positive change to our society.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world” -- Mahatma Gandhi.
Ng Mary Saza is an assistant professor, History dept. and NSS programme officer at Asufü Christian Institute (ACI), Punanamei, Mao. She is also the first female from Manipur to lead the North East NSS contingent team to the Republic Day Parade Camp, New Delhi-2018.