SHILLONG, MAY 29: Financial aid to National Service Scheme units should reach them directly and in full, not in parts, to allow effective planning of annual activities, Secretary, Youth Affairs, Dr Pallavi Jain Govil said during a consultation meeting in Shillong on Friday.
The meeting, organised by the NSS State Cell Meghalaya under the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of NSS, NER, Guwahati, was held at St. Anthony’s College.
It brought together NSS functionaries, Programme Officers, educational administrators, and stakeholders from the North Eastern Region to review the scheme’s strengthening and future direction.
Dr Govil pushed for wider use of the “My Bharat” platform by NSS functionaries and volunteers.
She emphasised the importance of onboarding volunteers to enable wider participation, recognition, and engagement through quizzes, essay competitions, Viksit Bharat initiatives, and other youth development activities.
“An NSS Alumni Page will also be created to strengthen networking and long-term engagement among former volunteers,” she said.
On funding, Dr Govil said “financial assistance should directly reach NSS Units” and stressed the need for “timely and full disbursement of funds instead of partial releases, enabling units to effectively plan and implement their annual activity calendars.”
She added that “funding allocations would be linked to proper registration and data updating on the NSS portal.”
The meeting addressed academic scheduling conflicts under the New Education Policy.
“The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, UGC, and other stakeholders, is working towards suitable modifications and curriculum frameworks to better integrate NSS activities within the academic system.”
Dr. Govil called for better documentation of field work. She underscored the importance of recognising best practices undertaken by NSS Units and suggested mechanisms for collecting, documenting, and rewarding impactful initiatives. Incentives for volunteers and Programme Officers were also discussed, including local-level awards, promotions, remuneration, and other motivational measures.
Special emphasis was laid on reviving Adventure Camps in the North Eastern Region and strengthening experiential learning opportunities for NSS volunteers. The NSS Manual is set for revision, with NSS Headquarters planning consultations and workshops to seek suggestions from stakeholders across the country.
The consultation also covered credit-based recognition of NSS work. Discussions included “integrating NSS activities into a credit-based accounting framework where volunteer contributions could be measured in hours and recognised formally.”
Dr. Govil referred to the Draft National Youth Policy and “highlighted innovative ideas such as a ‘Personal Youth Engagement Score,’ ‘Youth Development and Engagement Index,’ and ‘Youth Budget’ initiatives, particularly noting Meghalaya’s pioneering efforts in youth engagement.”
Other issues taken up included the need for conducting studies on incentives for Programme Officers, strengthening ETI trainings, and organising State NSS Festivals and State Awards in Meghalaya.
The meeting concluded with fruitful interactions and constructive suggestions aimed at strengthening the NSS movement, enhancing youth participation, and promoting community engagement and nation-building through volunteerism.
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