Lok Sabha Question No. 2394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-04
Subject: National Service Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

(DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS)

**LOK  SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2394**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04-08-2015

National Service Scheme

2394. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of  YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

1. the salient features and objectives of National Service Scheme(NSS);

1. the details of guidelines formulated to determine the number of students from any State getting benefit under the NSS and the total number of students benefitting from the NSS implemented by the Government ;

1. the names of the States which have sent proposal to the Government for increasing the number of students under the said scheme and the action taken thereon, State/UT wise; and

1. the action taken by the Government on the proposal of the Government of Chhattisgarh for fixing the number of beneficiary students to one lakh under the scheme?

**ANSWER**

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS

AND SPORTS

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

1. National Service Scheme (NSS) was introduced in 1969 with the primary objective of developing the personality and character of the student youth through voluntary community service. The motto of NSS is **“NOT ME, BUT YOU”.**

Objectives of NSS : NSS aims at developing the following qualities/ competencies among the volunteers:

a) To understand the community in which the NSS volunteers work and to understand themselves in relation to their community;

b) To identify the needs and problems of the community and involve themselves in problem-solving exercise;

c) To develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility;

d) To utilize their knowledge in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems;

e) To gain skills in mobilizing community participation;

f) To acquire leadership qualities and democratic values;

g) To develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters;

h) To practice national integration and social harmony.

Salient Features :  NSS is being implemented in Senior Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities. Each educational institution covered under the Scheme has at least one NSS unit comprising of 100 student volunteers (lesser strength in some cases), led by a teacher designated as Programme Officer (PO). Each NSS unit adopts a village or slum for taking up its activities. An NSS volunteer is required to undertake the following work/ activities:

1. **Regular NSS Activity** : Each NSS volunteer is required to put in minimum 120 hours of service per year for two years, i.e., total 240 hours. This work is undertaken in villages/ slums adopted by NSS unit or in school/ college campuses.

1. **Special Camping Programme** :  Each NSS unit organises a Special Camp of 7 days’ duration in adopted villages or urban slums during vacations, with some specific projects, by involving the local communities. Each volunteer is required to participate in the Special Camp once during the 2-year period.

Currently, funding is provided @Rs.250 per volunteer per annum for regular NSS activities and @Rs.450 per volunteer (once in two years) for special camping activities. Thus, the total cost of running NSS Programme works out to Rs.475 per volunteer per annum.

(b) 	Due to funds constraint, it has not been possible to allocate funds to fully meet the demand from States/ UTs for setting up of NSS units. During 2014-15, the total target/ allocation for the country was enhanced from 32.58 lakhs to 34.00 lakh volunteers. During 2015-16, no further increase has been possible due to budgetary constraints. In earlier years, allocation of targets amongst the States/ UTs was largely demand-driven. However, while increasing the target in 2014-15, preference was given to States/ UTs where the NSS strength was relatively less.  Further, the Department has also introduced a Mechanism for setting up of Self-financing Units (SFUs) of NSS so that the expansion of NSS is not constrained by lack of adequate Government funding. The units set up under this mechanism enjoy the same status as any other NSS unit, the only difference being that these units are funded by the institutions setting up the units. There is no ceiling or upper limit on setting up SFUs of NSS. The States/ UTs can set up as many SFUs as are considered necessary.

(c)	The name of the States/ UTs which have sent proposal to the Government for increasing the number of students under NSS are given at Annexure. It has not been possible to make any additional allocation of NSS volunteers to any State/ UT this year due to the budgetary constraints.

(d)	The Government has received proposal from the Government of Chhattisgarh to increase the NSS volunteer strength from 93,000 to 1,10,000. It has not been possible to enhance the volunteer strength for any State/ UT this year due to budgetary constraints. However, Government of Chattisgarh, like other States/ UTs, can promote more SFUs of NSS for enhancing the NSS strength.

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**ANNEXURE**

**ANNEXURE-1 REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (C) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2394 FOR 04-08-2015 BY SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH REGARDING NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME**

List Of States/UTs Requested For Enhancement In The Allocation Of NSS Volunteers During The Year 2014-15

|   Sl. No. | List of States/UTs   |
|-----------|----------------------|
|         1 | Gujarat              |
|         2 | D & N Haveli         |
|         3 | Daman and Diu        |
|         4 | Madhya Pradesh       |
|         5 | Chhattisgarh         |
|         6 | Odisha               |
|         7 | Chandigarh           |
|         8 | Punjab               |
|         9 | Himachal Pradesh     |
|        10 | Tamil Nadu           |
|        11 | West Bengal          |
|        12 | Sikkim               |
|        13 | Maharashtra          |
|        14 | Kerala               |

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