M.A. (Marathi), NET
Ever since independence there has been growing awareness of the desirability of involving students in National Service. The first Education Commission (1950) recommended the introduction of National Service by Students on a voluntary basis. Subsequently on the basis of suggestion made by the Prime Minister Pt. Nehru, a committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. D. Deshmukh to prepare a scheme for compulsory national service by students prior to their admission for degree courses. The Education Commission appointed under the Chairmanship of D. S. Kothari, recommended that National service may be introduced on a voluntary basis.
In April 1967 the conference of stage education ministers recommended that at the university stage students could be permitted to join the National Cadet Corps which was already in existence on a voluntary basis and an alternative to this could be offered to them in the form of new programme called National Service Scheme (N.S.S.).
The conference of Vice-Chancellors in September 1967 welcomed this recommendation. In pursuance of these recommendations, the Ministry of Education introduced the National Service Scheme during 1969 to 1970. The choice of the timing of its introduction was remarkably auspicious as 1969 was the birth centenary year of Mahatma Gandhi, The father of Nation to whom Social Service was almost a religion.
The motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is “NOT ME BUT YOU.” This expresses the essence of democratic living and upholds the need for selfless service and appreciation of the other man’s point of view and also to show considerations for fellow human beings. It underlines that the welfare of an individual’s is ultimately depends on the welfare of society as whole. Therefore it should be the aim of the NSS to demonstrate this motto in its day-to-day programme.
