INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL SERVICE

The Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme (NSS) Award for the year 2014-15 was presented by Honorable President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 19th November, 2015 to the individuals, volunteer groups and educational institutes for their active participation and contribution in social welfare.Two NSS Faculty Coordinator Ms. Bhanu Bhardwaj and Dr.S.K. Srivastava represented Dronacharya Group of Institutions at the event.

The awards were given to NSS volunteers, Programme Officers, NSS Units and the University NSS Cells for their contribution in constructive and productive programmes involving students in various awareness drives, shramdaan, social reforms, communal harmony, creation of community assets, relief work, blood donation, environmental protection, literacy programme, health education campaign. NSS Units and cells which have more than 1,000 NSS members and are operating as an NSS unit for more than five years can enroll for this award.

The award juries acknowledge those institutes and NSS volunteers who have completed 240 hours of work in special camping programmes. A selection committee is constituted for each state or province that shortlists the institute and send nominations via report. States and provinces having less than 20,000 NSS volunteers can nominate one university or Plus Two council, one NSS unit (along with the name of the concerned programme officer) and one NSS student volunteer. Regions having more than 20,000 volunteers can add the name of one more unit and student to their nominations. The nominations from schools and colleges must reach the concerned university by the first week of March and the state council by the last week of March every year. The awards are announced on September 24 while the date of presentation is decided by the Ministry of Youth and Current Affairs according to the convenience of the President and the awardees. Total 52 awards are given out. One each to the winning university, upcoming university, ten to each programme officer and NSS unit and 30 awards would be presented to the NSS volunteers. The awardees for all five categories i.e. University/+2 Council, Upcoming University, Programme Officer , NSS Unit and NSS Volunteers shall be awarded Trophy and a Scroll/Certificate along with prize money of Rs 3,00,000, Rs 2,00,000, Rs 70,000, Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

This year the awardees were:

1. Indira Gandhi NSS Award of Appreciation

a. Dr Achyutanand Malviya on behalf of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University,

b. Kundan Basavaraj on behalf of Kuvempu University

c. R. N. Kapre on behalf of Babasaheb Ambedkar University

2. Abdul Jannar Ahamed, Programme Coordinator of Directorate of Technical Education in Kerala was awarded with Indira Gandhi NSS Award as Best University

3. Rabi Akula, a member of the NSS Cell at the Mahatma Gandhi University, received the award for best upcoming university.

Around 32 volunteers and 10 officers received the prestigious award for their social contribution.

The event provided a great opportunity to interact with scholars from all over India and developed a sense of involvement in the task of nation building. The vast experience gained during such exposure increased consciousness by getting students involved in activities that address individual and community needs. It also encouraged the young NSS students to develop their personality through community service and acquire positive social attitudes and values.