The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunities to student youth of schools, technical institutions, graduate and post-graduate colleges and universities to take part in community service activities and programmes. The primary objective is to develop the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service. ‘Education through Service’ is the purpose of the NSS.

NSS was launched in 1969 in 37 Universities involving about 40,000 volunteers, which has now spread over 657 Universities and 51 +2 Councils/Directorates, covering 20,669 Colleges/Technical Institutions and 11,988 Senior Secondary Schools. Since its inception, over 7.4 crore students have benefitted.

National Service Scheme (NSS) had been started in Acharya Nagarjuna University in the year 1977 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India. At present 252 NSS Units are functioning at various Intermediate, Under Graduate & Post Graduate colleges in Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla and Prakasam Districts with 252 NSS Programme Officers and 25200 NSS Volunteers under the jurisdiction of Acharya Nagarjuna University.

The NSS Badge — Proud to Serve the Nation

All the youth volunteers who opt to serve the nation through the NSS led community service wear the NSS badge with pride and a sense of responsibility towards helping needy. The Konark wheel in the NSS badge having 8 bars signifies the 24 hours of the day, reminding the wearer to be ready for the service of the nation round the clock. Red colour in the badge signifies energy and spirit displayed by the NSS volunteers. The Blue colour signifies the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.

Motto

The motto of National Service Scheme is NOT ME BUT YOU.

Benefits of being an NSS volunteer

An NSS volunteer who takes part in the community service programme would either be a college level or a senior secondary level student. Being an active member these student volunteers would have the exposure and experience to be the following:

• an accomplished social leader
• an efficient administrator
• a person who understands human nature

NSS at Hindu College of Pharmacy

National Service Scheme at Hindu College of Pharmacy, Guntur was inaugurated in the year 2000 by the hands of Hon. President and Secretary. The main objective of starting the activity at college was to have some sense of responsibility for social activity to the professional pharmacy college students from their busy schedule. Initially, a unit of 50 students was sanctioned by the university which was increased to 100 students in 2008-09 looking at performance and various activities conducted. For last 15 years NSS unit has been actively involved in various social activities mainly in the Health sector along with other activities like environment protection, disaster management, road safety, cleanliness drive etc.

The main objectives of NSS at our college

• Understand the community in which they work
• Understand themselves in relation to their community
• Identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem-solving
• Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility
• Utilize their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems
• Develop competence required for group-living and sharing of responsibilities
• Gain skills in mobilizing community participation
• Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitudes
• Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters
• Practice national integration and social harmony

Functions / Responsibilities

• The National Service Scheme is an Indian government sponsored public service program conducted by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India to inculcate social welfare in students and to provide service to society without bias.
• Students volunteer for the NSS work to ensure that everyone who is needy gets help to enhance their standard of living and lead a life of dignity and learn from people in villages how to lead a good life despite a scarcity of resources.

NSS Committee

NSS Activities