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NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME UNIT
The National Service Scheme (NSS) for student volunteers was launched in India on September 24, 1969, with the aim of developing the personality of students through social service experience. The Tata Institute of Social Sciences had played a role in the evolution of the Scheme by way of consultation and organisation of the National Seminar in March 1969 to work out the logistics of its implementation. Several Schools of Social Work were involved in this exercise. Following the launch of the Scheme, the TISS was designated as a Training Orientation and Research Centre for NSS in Western India Region by the Government of India. In this role, it has been providing technical support to the NSS in the region, through training of NSS programme officers, organisation of seminars/workshops, consultancy to universities/colleges, research, field action projects and publications. The NSS Unit is fully sponsored by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India. NSS PROGRAMMES In view of the expertise of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in social work and social sciences, and also its role in the evolution of National Service Scheme, the Government of India designated TISS as a Training, Orientation and Research Centre for National Service Scheme (NSS) in 1969. At TISS, the Centre functions under the title NSS Unit , which is located within the School of Lifelong Learning. The impact of the NSS Unit spreads beyond the campus of the Institute and beyond competency-building for NSS. The jurisdiction of the NSS Unit spreads to almost 1,000 NSS Units of Junior and Degree Colleges in Maharashtra. Every year, the Unit provides training to about 200�225 teachers designated as NSS Programme Officers. The training is in the form of NSS Orientation Programmes and NSS Refresher Courses. The training content and methodology has been perceived to be useful by the programme officers not only for the NSS, but also in their role as teachers. Indeed, many of them specifically observe that the course gives them a good understanding of students as youth, thus enhancing their ability to deal with them more effectively in all their roles as teachers. The trainees are given time to interact with the Unit faculty daily prior to the commencement of sessions and at the end of the day. Outside session timings, they are encouraged to use the Library and meet other TISS faculty. Some of them also visit the Computer Centre to join special classes designed to suit their time and needs in order to upgrade their computer skills. Many return later to utilise the services of the Computer Centre in processing their research data. This personalised approach helps to add greater meaning to their visit to TISS and also increases their commitment to the NSS training course. Each course is evaluated by the trainees and the findings are used for incorporating necessary changes. The Unit faculty are also able to contact about another 200+ teachers each year through visits to universities, colleges and camps for seminars, workshops and programme visits. Some of the recent NSS Refresher Courses have been on topics like: For further details please contact Mr. Khalil Ahmed Coordinator Email: khalilad@tiss.edu |
