After independence the University Grants Commission, headed by S. Radhakrishnan, recommended the introduction of voluntary national service in academic institutions. This idea was again considered by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) at its meeting in January, 1950; after examining the idea and the experiences of other countries in this field, the board recommended that students and teachers should devote time to voluntary manual work. In the draft first Five-Year Plan adopted by the government in 1952, the need for social and labour service by Indian students for one year was stressed. In 1958 Jawaharlal Nehru, in a letter to the chief ministers, considered the idea of social service as a prerequisite for graduation. He directed the Ministry of Education to formulate a suitable scheme for the introduction of national service into academic institutions.

Initiation:

Later, the Education Commission (headed by D.S. Kothari from 1964–1966) recommended that students at every stage of education should be associated with some form of social service. This was taken into account by the state education ministers during their April 1967 conference; they recommended that university students could join the National Cadet Corps. (NCC) (Which was already inexistence on a voluntary basis) or the new National Service Scheme. Promising athletes, however, should be exempted from both and allowed to join another scheme: the National Sports Organization (NSO). The September 1969 Vice Chancellors' Conference welcomed this recommendation, and suggested that a special committee of vice-chancellors could examine the question in detail. In a government statement of national policy on education, it was stated that work experience and national service should be an integral part of education.

Launch of National Service Scheme:

In May 1969, a conference of student representatives (of universities and institutions of higher education) convened by the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission also unanimously agreed that a national-service scheme could be an instrument for national integration. The details were soon worked out and the Planning Commission sanctioned an outlay of Rs. five crores for the NSS during the Fourth Five-Year Plan, stipulating that the NSS be a pilot project in select institutions and universities. On 24 September 1969, then-Union Education Minister V.K.R.V. Rao launched the NSS at 37 universities in all states. The scheme has been extended to all states and universities in the country, and also +2-level institutes in many states.

Our Aims and objectives:

• Understand the Community in which they work.
• Understand themselves in relation to their Community.
• Identify the needs & problems of the Community and involve them in problem solving process.
• Develop among them a sense of social and civic responsibility.
• Utilize their knowledge their finding practical solutions to individual & community problems.
• Develop competence required for group living and sharing of responsibilities.
• Gain skill in mobilizing community participation.
• Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude.
• Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disaster.
• Practice national integration and society harmony.
• The educational goal of the NSS implies that besides gaining understanding of concepts like community, social structure, Power Conflict etc. occurring in real life situations, Students should acquire competence in the field of program planning.
• The service goal of NSS also calls educational approach in solving community problems. Its purpose is to help the community to recognize its needs and to assist in the mobilization of resources to meet these needs. 
• Both the educational goal and the service goal of the NSS should be kept in mind while planning 
• service activities by the students under the regular NSS program.

The Motto 

The motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is :‘NOT ME BUT YOU’. This reflects the essence of democratic living and upholds the need for selfless serviceand appreciation of the other person’s point of view and also to show consideration for fellow human beings. It underlines that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of society on the whole. Therefore, it should be the aim of the 
NSS to demonstrate this motto in its day-to-day programme.

NSS Symbol

The symbol of the National Service Scheme, as appearing on the cover page of this Manual is based on the ‘Rath’ wheel of the Konark Sun Temple situated in Orissa. These giant wheels of the Sun Temple portray the cycle of creation, preservation and release,  and signify the movement in life across time and space. The design of the symbol, a simplified form of the Sun-chariot wheel primarily depicts movement. The wheel  signifies the progressive cycle of life. It stands for continuity as well as change and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social transformation and upliftment.   

 NSS Badge

The NSS symbol is embossed on the NSS badge. The NSS volunteers wear it while undertaking any programme of community service. The Konark wheel in the symbol has eight bars which represent the 24 hours of the day. Hence, the badge reminds  the wearer to be in readiness for service of the nation  round the clock i.e. for 24 hours. The red colour in the badge indicates that the NSS volunteers are full of blood i.e. lively, active, energetic and full of high spirit. The navy blue colour indicates the cosmos of which the NSS is a tiny part, ready to contribute its share for the welfare of the mankind.  

NSS Day

NSS was formally launched on 24thSeptember, 1969, the birth centenary year of the Father of the Nation. Therefore, 24September is celebrated every year as NSS Day with appropriate programmes and activities. NSS Song 

During Silver Jubilee Year the NSS theme song has been composed. All NSS Volunteers are expected to learn the theme song and sing the song during NSS programmes and celebrations

Shivaji University, Kolhapur – National Service Scheme Activities Since 1969

Since 1969 the University NSS Cell is organizing from time to time varied types of outreach programs, viz., Program related to property rights or legal awareness for poor people, awareness about poverty alleviation programs / Schemes, literacy (including women literacy), coaching for needy children, special coaching programs for the socially-and economically-backward students, gender rights, consumer rights, prevention of environmental pollution, eco-conservation, planting of saplings and preservation, arsenic-free water, surface water management, child health care, family planning, blood donation, anti-drug and anti-alcohol awareness, health and hygiene consciousness, book distribution, campus cleaning and beautification, drainage maintenance, rural road maintenance, etc.  In these programs conducted by some faculty members, officers and non-teaching employees, and a good number of students have participated.  Many students have participated in the Sarv Siksha Abhiyaan (a movement for literacy).  Most of these programs are organized by the NSS units.

The NSS Cell of the Shivaji University is functioning since introduction of the NSS by the Govt. of India in the University in the year of 1969 and now it has 172 units and they are performing from campus to community for social work like health checkup,  tree plantation, HIV-AIDS prevention, campus cleaning, slum/ village cleaning along with survey of the underdeveloped people, campaign against early marriage, rural development, developing the sports facilities and physical conditions of the slums and underprivileged persons, etc.  Activities of the Shivaji University’s NSS Cell is fast expanding under the able guidance and active leadership of Honorable Vice- Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Devanand Shinde, Honorable Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. D. T. Shirke, Registrar Dr. V. D. Nandavadekar and Director of NSS Prof. Abhay D. Jaibhaye.

The direct supervision of honorable Vice Chancellor & Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university is always helping to increase the standard of the university NSS Cell.  Almost all the colleges, having NSS units, have been playing active role by guiding the NSS volunteers, who are the students of their colleges, to serve the greater society by adopting about 209 different slums and villages under the territorial jurisdiction of the University

The NSS functions in two parts:

1.    Regular activities-(work): No. Of students 24600
2.    Special Camps for 7 days:  No. Of students 12300
 

The Students will have to work for a minimum period of 240 hours (in two continuous year) and participation in one seven days residential camp will receive a certificate on completion of NSS.
 

Rules and Regulations made by Committee appointing by Management Council for Jointly organisation of  programme with NGO