NSS IIT Madras

I recently took admission in IIT Madras and from here doing engineering degree came to know about NSS program. Will you provide basic details about National Service Scheme (NSS) IIT Madras program also provide list of activities which student volunteers of NSS perform?

[Arvind Kumar]

National Service Scheme (NSS) IIT Madras is a student run organisation that was initiated over four decades ago with a vision, to cause benefit to the society is any possible way.

National Service Scheme IIT Madras chapter has more than 300 students, from all respective years and batches, who help contribute to the cause of the scheme.

The aims of the NCC are three-fold.

Development of leadership, comradeship, spirit of sportsmanship and the idea of service.

To create a force of disciplined manpower which in a national emergency could be of assistance to the country.

To provide training for students with a view to developing in them officer-like qualities, thus also enabling them to obtain commission in the Armed Forces.

The student volunteers of NSS have been engaged in the following activities.

Helping in the education of under-privileged children of Taramani : Taramani is a village located near the IIT campus. There are a large number of children in the village who have poor and illiterate parents and hence find it difficult to progress in their education.

Around 70 NSS volunteers help such children in the six NSS centers located in the village. The children are taught on 6 days of the week in the evenings for one and a half hours everyday.

Subjects covered include Mathematics, English, Social Sciences, Tamil and Science. Extra classes are held during examination periods. The efforts of the volunteers have evoked an enthusiastic response from the villagers.

Helping children in Vanavani and the Central School located inside the IIT campus : In the campus, there are many children who are handicapped by the poverty and lack of education of their parents. NSS volunteers help children (from LKG to 12th standard) by holding special classes six days of the week at the Campus Amenities Center.

Waste disposal : Student volunteers of the NSS together with members of SWARM (Solid Waste Recycling and Management) help in recycling organic waste generated in the campus. A water harvesting programme has been started and is being managed by Prof. Thandaveswara (Civil Engg. Dept.).

NSS volunteers have helped in arranging Yoga camps, blood-donation camps etc. for the students of the Institute. Volunteers also collect donations (clothes and money) for organizations such as Udavum Karangal.

AID (Association for India's Development) is another organization with similar objectives, started by Indian students and professionals in USA. Several IIT Alumni are active members of AID and have started a wing for AID in the Institute. The AID volunteers work in conjunction with the NSS volunteers.

Contact:

Indian Institute of Technology Madras
IIT P.O., Chennai 600 036
INDIA