NSS, National Service Scheme was formally launched on 24^th September 1969, the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The father of the Nation’. The education minister Dr. V. K. Rao, launched the NSS programme in 37 universities, with enrolment of around 40,000 students.

Nature of NSS: Social service, a scheme for students sponsored by ‘Ministry of Human Resources Development’, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

The symbol: based on the ‘Rath Wheel’ of ‘Konark Sun Temple’ situated in Odisha.

NSS badge: The Konark wheel portrays the cycle of creation, preservation and release. It signifies the movement in life across time and space, the symbol thus stands for continuity as well as change and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social change. The eight bars in the wheel represent 24 hours of a day. The red colour indicates that the volunteer is full of young blood that is 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 mankind.

Motto: ‘NOT ME BUT YOU’

Goal: Education through community service, community service through education.

Obligation of NSS volunteers: to work for two continued years along with their studies, to put in 120 hours of service each year and to participate in one special camping programme.

The NSS since its inception in 2009 in Womens’ College Calcutta, has gained huge popularity among the students. In May 2009, Dr. Mala Kumari Gupta was given the post of NSS programme officer to organize all events.

The NSS volunteers organized and did many activities under ‘Regular’ and ‘Special camping programmes’ from the year 2009 till date.

Regular Activities

1. Observation of ‘World Environment Day’
2. ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Republic Day’ celebration
3. NSS day
4. NSS rally conducted by NSS, University of Calcutta
5. Tree plantation in college, campus and slum area
6. Environmental sanitation and disposal of garbage
7. Cleaning the college campus
8. Literacy Programme
9. Medical camp
10. Celebration of ‘International Yoga Day’
11. Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda observation on 12^th January every year

Special Camping Programmes

1. Medical camps
2. Health and Hygiene survey (Local)
3. Campus cleaning and tree plantation
4. Psychological counselling
5. Educational excursion for slum children in Indian Museum
6. Survey and interaction with the inmates of ‘ASHA NIKETAN’ old age home
7. Free eye screening camp for slum children, NSS volunteers and college staff
8. Excursion at Eco-Park, Rajarhat
9. Cultural competition for slum children
10. Drawing competition for slum children
11. Workshops- ‘Dance’ by choreographer Kaushik Chakrabarty, ‘Adolescent nutrition’, ‘ Yoga’, ‘ Women’s security’ by officials of Kolkata Police, ‘Theatre’ by Mili Samaddar, ‘ Communicative English’
12. Literacy Programme (Each one Teach one) for slum children
13. Distribution of old clothes in slum area of Galiff street

Our Achievements

1. Best Special Camping Programme for remarkable performance during the year 2012-13, by NSS, University of Calcutta
2. Best Programme Officer for her remarkable performance during the year 2012-13, by NSS, University of Calcutta
3. Best volunteer award on the occasion of ‘GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION’ of NSS in 2019
4. Some volunteers participated in Half Marathon (‘safe drive, save life’), organized by Kolkata Police on 6^th January 2019
5. Our volunteers participated in and got prize for ‘Recitation Competition’ held at Rabindra Bharati University from 23^rd-27^th September 2019 on the observance of 150 years of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ and ‘NSS Day’

Programmes during 2020-21

Due to the pandemic situation only few programmes were organized such as-

1. Republic Day
2. Independence Day
3. Virtual NSS Day celebration
4. Contribution of clothes, food, blankets, soaps, dettols and other necessary things by NSS Volunteers and College staff members to the affected people of Slum area in a fire accident. (18 January, 2021)
5. Our volunteers conducted March Past on Sports day, 20^th February 2020.

Advisory Committee

Chairperson: Dr. Mahua Das, Principal (on lien), Women’s College Calcutta

Programme Officer: Dr. Mala Kumari Gupta

Members:

Smt. Sanghita Bhattacharjee

Smt. Archita Seal

Smt. Ubhay Bharati Acharya (Mukherjee)

Smt. Sanjukta Sarkar Naskar

Smt. Rituparna Gangopadhyay

Office Representatives:

Shri. Shyamal Ranjan Bhattacharya

Shri. Himanshu Chakraborty