The trained key persons play an important role in the successful implementation of any programmes. Therefore, it has been acknowledged that the well trained State Liaison Officer, Programme Coordinators and Programme Officers can discharge their duties effectively.
With a view to provide training/orientation and too develop right thinking, approach and understanding about the philosophy of NSS, 1 institutions have been designated as the Training and Orientations Centres with a view to develop right thinking and approach, leadership, commitment, and understanding of the philosophy of National Service Scheme. In addition to these, four Training, Orientation and Research Centres have also been established. The list off these institutions is given at the end of this part.
Functions of TOCs
Training and Orientation Centres will perform the following functions:
a) Organising orientation course and refresher courses and special courses for the programme officers;
b) Providing assitance to universities and +2 Councils in planning and conducting special camping programme;
c) Developing and providing consultancy services to universities and colleges/schools in different areas of programme, planning, training, supervision, evaluation etc. Such consultancy services may be provided through group discussions, seminars, preparation and supply of subject papers, personal discussions during visits to universities/colleges,- correspondence on specific points etc;
d) Developing demonstration projects under NSS on inter-collegiate basis with the objective of developing further experience for the use of universities and colleges;
e) Acting as clearing house of information on NSS;
f) Providing on-the-spot guidance to the universities and colleges in camps etc. Through personal visits.
Composition of Training and Orientatiion Centres
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports provides full financial assistance for the establishment of Training & Orientation Centres. The following staff will be provided at the Centre:
a) Coordinator (Trg.) in the pay scale of Reader of university one post
b) Lecturer in the pay scale of Lecturer in the college/university one post
c) Stenographer in the pay scale prescribed by the Institution for the post one post
Selection of Coordinator (Trg) and lecturer
The coordinator (Trg.)/Lecturer will be selected as per procedure laid down as under:
a) The Coordinator (Trg.)/Lecturer will be invited through advertisement in local daily/dailies;
b) The candidates for the post of Coordinator (Trg.)/Lecturer will be invited through advertisement in local daily/dailies;
c) The selection committee will forward the names of the select candidates as per merit.
Functions of Coordinators (Trg.)
a) He/she will prepare plans and initiate action to achieve the objective the objectives as prescribed in the functions of TOC.
b) Prepare the plans for orientation/refresher courses to be organized for the Programme Officers during the year. He/She will submit the proposals in time to the Department of Youth. Affairs & sports for financial assistance; time to the Department of Youth. Affairs &Sports for financial assistance;
c) He/she will develop a model depicting NSS activities for demonstration during the orientation and refresher courses;
d) He/She will ensure that the financial accounts are submitted to the Department in time;
e) He/she will ensure that the periodical reports, and returns are submitted to the concerned authorities in time;
f) He/She will give necessary feed-back on the status of the programme in the field to the NSS Headquarter and the Regional Centre;
g) He/she will make visits to the special camps for the assessment. Similarly, he/she may visit the special projects being undertaken by the colleges;
h) He/she will act as Member Secretary of the TOC Training Advisory Committee and convene its meetings as and when required. The TOC Advisory Committee must meet at least twice a year;
i) He/she will get the yearly plans of training and budget approved bythe Advisory Committee;
j) He/she will maintain close liaison with the State Liaison Officer, NSS and NSS Regional Centre. He/She will also ensure that training courses are properly held in time.
k) He/she will liaise with the State Liaison Officer to ensure the deputation of the Programme Officer for the training courses.
NSS Unit
One unit of NSS consists of 100 volunteers at school/college level headed by a Programme Officer (usually a lecturer). At the University/Directorate level the NSS is looked after by Programme Co- ordinators. The State Liaison Cell is fully responsible for the implementation of the scheme including timely release of grants to the NSS units in institutions.
NSS Programme Officer
The programme officer, who is a member of the teaching faculty, provides necessary leadership to the youth/NSS students. The teacher/NSS programme officer has the professional knowledge and skills. He/She is also a representative of the school/college and the educated elite and knows the needs and aspirations of student youth. Further he/she is expected to be a role model of the values and the norms of the institution and the society as a whole. Therefore, he/she is the fittest person to provide necessary lead to the students in developing their personality through community service. In fact the Programme Officer is a friend, philosopher and guide to the students in achieving this goal.
NSS Volunteer
This NSS volunteer, who is a college/+2 level student is the main beneficiary of the programme by way of development of his/her perception about the community, his/her skill to perform certain jobs his quality of a leader, organizer, and an administrator and the development of his/her personality as a whole. Through NSS, he/she gets opportunities to see the community closely and thus get an experience of human nature in relation to his/her environment. This is how the NSS programme aims to make NSS student youth better citizens through “Development of their Personality through Community Service”.
Aims of NSS Programmes/Activities
The operational aim of NSS is to integrate the three basic components of the programme. NSS programme should provide a variety of learning experiences which must develop a sense of participation, service and achievement among the volunteers. The activities should aim at the following:-
(i) making education more relevant to the present situation to meet the felt needs of the community and supplement the education of the university/college students by bringing them face to face with the rural situation;
(ii) providing opportunities to the students to play their role in planning and executing development projects which would not only help in creating durable community assets in rural areas and urban slums but also results in the improvement of quality of life of the economically weaker sections of the community;
(iii) encouraging students and non – students to work together along with the adults in rural areas;
(iv) developing qualities of leadership by discovering the latent potential among the campers, both students as well as local youth (Rural and Urban), with a view to involving them more intimately in the development programme and also ensuring proper maintenance of the assets created during the camps;
(v) emphasizing dignity of labour and self – help and the need for combining physical work with intellectual pursuits;
(vi) encouraging youth to participate enthusiastically in the process of national development and promote national integration through corporate living and cooperative action.
While undertaking these activities, each NSS unit should envisage its programmes/activities aimed at instilling discipline, building character, promotion of physical fitness and development of culture.
