StudentSpeak : Part V

Manpreet Chaudhury (Village : Pariapara; Program Officer : Dr. Dilip K. Swain)

India being a developing country and during the path to development, wide differences are created between rich and poor. This situation is what calls for national service especially in villages. So, working for welfare of these poor people actually generates a feeling of self satisfaction and so am I involved in these activities through NSS, IIT kharagpur. It provided me a platform to help those who are in indispensable need of it.

Being a NSS volunteer, I contributed my best to it. I served my job being in newsletter team in my first year. Continuing my job in second year, this was the time to directly do something for poor people and so I was involved in conducting surveys for caste certificate in my assigned village and helping them to get it. I attended a meeting with BDO which helped a lot in problem solving process. I was part of a play performed by our group on NSS day function. Now, it’s the last semester for NSS, and it’s the last but not the least time to do something worth mentioning. So i helped in organizing games and sports event in village and prize distribution as well. I am currently in work in organizing a health camp in my village which I think to be the best work done to end NSS tenure officially, although I would continue social service otherwise.

After my NSS tenure is over, I would continue serving to social service by: * Starting a scholarship programme for the poor students *  Organizing seminars or workshops for creating awareness about beneficial policies of government * Conducting workshops on local marketing by which, poor people can increase their income on available resources. * Introducing small investment businesses
to villagers, to generate more employment.

Viligatla Manaswi (Village : Ayodhyagarh; Program Officer : Dr. R. K. Rawat)

 I have participated actively in the celebration of youth festival during my first year.  We have conducted drawing competition to the students of the school under our area as a part of it.  Have taken active part in all the NSS meets and lectures held. Have participated in NSS rallies held till date. Have played major role in celebration of republic day, independence day and other days of national importance. I have taken important part during NSS camp held in December 2010 in which I have took actively  in clothes and books  distribution, served  all the NSS volunteers by taking part in preparing lunch. Have toaken part in a skit during NSS camp which was responsible for the enlightenment  of the villagers. Have taken part in making the presentation of our group activities. Have collected stationary and unused books from my hall mates in order to distribute to the poor students in village.

Abir Das (Village :Kuchalachati; Program Officer : Dr. Mantu P. Rajak)

I started NSS activities for my group in the Kuchalachati village. I did survey in that village and later I was in the literacy campaign misssion in which we were supposed to teach the middle aged illiterate people to identify letters  and make words. In my second year,I am made the group leader of the group and my duty was to coordinate all the activities done by our group. My motto was to contribute as much as I could as a part of the team and maintain team spirit  among my fellow volunteers.

And on account of community service after NSS gets over, I am a student of Ramakrisha Mission and we were taught the most noble thing to do would be taking education responsibility of a poor child whose family cant afford his education. So, after I get a job, I would like to that under the guidance of Ramakrisha Mission.

In news

We are proud to find that the community service effort of IIT Kharagpur students, some of them are active NSS volunteers (Link), are drawing attention of national media like NDTV, Times of India, The Telegraph, Business Standard, The Hindu Business Line, IBN Live etc. We reproduce some of these articles here.

NDTV Report : May 04, 2012 (Link)

IIT students to organise Educational Yatra

Patna:  IITians for youth (IFY), an organisation of students from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, is organising an educational Yatra for students from Bihar to provide quality learning and creating awareness among rural and underprivileged students.

The organisation in association with the Bihar Police will be organising this Yatra from May 5 to May 25.

During the campaign the students will be given guidance, motivation and will be shown proper approach towards studies.

The team will visit Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas, and Kaimur, apart from a few Maoist-affected areas.

Ankit Agarwal, Senior IFY member said that the students from the rural areas lack awareness about various opportunities available to them and they will be told about all of them like various career options, importance of computer and English education.

Another member Saif Khan# said apart from the students, parents will also be motivated not to let their children drop out of schools.

Others who will be undertaking the Yatra include SAT Ahmad# (wrongly spelt : Imbesat Ahmed), Ankit Agarwal, Nitin Sharma and Bailal Shakir. Altogether 12 members of the IFY are from Bihar.

Times of India Report : May 08, 2012 (Link)

IITians educate children in Maoist-hit areas

GAYA: Undeterred by the Naxals promoting the gun as the ultimate source of power and authority, a group of IITians on Monday visited Imamganj in Gaya district, the Red bastion claimed by the rebels as part of the 'liberated zone'.

The IITians, earlier groomed by Bihar DGP Abhyanand through the Super 30 series, are engaged in a project to create awareness among children of disadvantaged sections to convert challenges into opportunities and go ahead with a focussed plan to make it big in life through education, the ultimate source of power.

According to Imbesat Ahmad#, a third year student of IIT Kharagpur, the team visited three schools including the Imamganj High School and Raniganj High School for personal interaction with the children of the Naxal-prone areas to motivate them to plan their education and focus on larger goals.
Ahmad told TOI from Imamganj that the IITians also interacted with the teachers to have a first hand idea of the problems being faced by the teachers and the taught in the Red bastion.

The visitors, who had apparently done their homework well, have also worked on a strategy to overcome the infrastructural and other shortcomings and improvise skills to neutralise the disadvantages and go ahead for achieving pre-fixed goals.

The visitors also conducted some tests to shortlist promising youngsters who, with proper guidance, have the potential to sharpen their skills and compete with their better placed contemporaries.
The IITians earlier visited the Magadh Super 30 to motivate and guide the youngsters to crack the IITJEE.

Giving tips to the IIT aspirants belonging to the less privileged groups, the visiting IITians shared their own experience and encouraged the IIT aspirants to go in for combined studies as group study is very useful in problem solution and confidence building.

Besides Gaya, the IITians would also be visiting Aurangabad, Rohtas and Kaimur, the other Naxal-prone districts.

The Telegraph : May 05, 2012 (Link)

IITians on education mission

IITians for Youth, an organisation of students from IIT-Kharagpur, is launching an educational yatra, which aims at promoting quality learning and creating awareness about career opportunities after classes X and XII among rural and underprivileged students.

The organisation, in association with Bihar police, will launch the yatra on May 5. For the next 20 days, the IITians will visit four Naxalite-hit districts, including Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas and Kaimur. They would later prepare a report on their tour and submit it to the state government.

The 20-member team of IITians left for Gaya in a state bus on Friday. Bihar director-general of police Abhayanand has given his consent for the yatra, which will be supported by the state police. The police, in coordination with the district administrations, would arrange for the food, lodging and transportation on the students.

Imbesat Ahmad#, a member of IITians for Youth, said: “We will primarily focus on students in the age group of 14 years and above, who are in classes IX, X, XI and XII.”

This is the age when maximum number of students drop out of schools. IITians for Youth will create awareness among such students about positive aspects of completing school education.

Ahmad said: “It has been found that despite the government launching various schemes and offering sops to students, a large number of them drop out at the higher secondary level. These students take admission in government schools only for enjoying the benefits of schemes such as Cycle Yojana, Poshak Yojana and others.

“Once the students avail the benefits of these schemes, they quit the school, pushing up the dropout rate.”

Nitin Sharma, who originally hails from Jaipur, said: “This is the first time I am in Bihar. I am very pleased that we are launching such initiatives from the state which has seen a high growth rate in terms of literacy, but still a lot to achieve.”

The young students from IIT will visit the remote areas of the districts and try to address the problems of the students. They would also inform them about the various job opportunities for educated youths.

Nitin said: “There are many carrer opportunities for young students once they clear their classes X and XII examination. They can apply for jobs in railways, industrial training institute (ITI) and the army at lower ranks.”

He added: “If a student, after clearing his or her matriculation or Class XII test, prepares sincerely for such competitive exams, there are high chances that the person would get a job in these fields. Several rural students, however, are not able to utilise these opportunities for lack of awareness. They are left with on other alternative but to assist their families which are mostly working in the fields or are migrant labourers.”

The Hindu Business Line : May 10, 2012 (Link)

IITians rue lack of infrastructure in rural schools in Bihar

Gaya, May 10: A group of IIT-Kharagpur students rued the absence of academic infrastructure and good teachers in schools in the rural areas of Bihar to cater to the academic aspirations of the students.

The students visiting the Maoist-infested central and south Bihar districts, under the banner of the IITians for Youth (IFY), observed that there was a woeful lack of infrastructure and good teachers in the schools to teach young boys and girls, particularly Class IX and X students.

There was no dissemination of quality education in rural schools to enable the students to excel in studies, said an IIT-Kharagpur student, Mr Nishat Ahmed# (Imbesat Ahmed, wrongly spelt), said after visiting rural areas of Gaya district where he interacted with the local students and gave them counselling about education and career.

Though the state government has upgraded several secondary schools into high schools, there was an acute shortage of teachers and more so good teachers, he said.

IIT students interacted with the parents and found that they wanted to provide good education to their children and in the absence of good education in the schools they were forced to send their wards to coaching institutes, Mr Ahmed said.

It was because of academic activities in schools that the coaching institutes were a booming business in the rural areas, he said.

Times of India Report : May 05, 2012 (Link)

IITians to impart vocational skills

PATNA: IITs are known across the world for producing best technical minds, but now the students of IIT-Kharagpur are all set to train those underprivileged students of Bihar who could not make it to such renowned institutions. 'IITians For Youth (IFY)', a group of IIT-Kharagpur students, in collaboration with Bihar Police is organizing a 20-day educational tour starting Saturday in four districts of Bihar to teach vocational skills and create awareness about the importance of education.

"We will be conducting one five-day workshop each in Gaya, Aurangabad, Rohtas and Kaimur," said IFY member Ankit Agrawal, adding "We would hone the computer and English-language skills of poor students apart from imparting other occupational skills."

He added, "We will also talk to parents of the students and sensitize them about the significance of education. We will ask them to not to engage their children in any sort of child labour by taking them out of schools."

"We will inform them about the rights granted to underprivileged students by the government, so that they can fully exercise them. We will also make them aware of various competitive examinations which don't require high academic qualifications and can be given after passing out from class X or class XII," added Imbesat Ahmad#, an IFY member.

Thanking Bihar police for supporting their cause, he said, "The Bihar Police have arranged the infrastructure for this entire yatra. They not only arranged for our accommodation and transportation but also provided us all the necessary tools required for the workshops."

# NSS volunteer

(We shall migrate to  http://iitkgpnss.blogspot.in/ from next academic session which will be administered from iitkgp.nss@gmail.com account.)

StudentSpeak : Part IV

Vinodhini C (Village : Balarampur; Program Officer : Dr. N. D. Pradeep Singh)

Initially, in my first year, I taught students of Kindergarten as well as Classes 1 and 2. Since I did not know
Bengali, I would try communicating through sign language, drawings and often take the help of my co-volunteers (who knew Bengali). Since the beginning of my second year and after 1st years were involved (all of whom knew Bengali), I have been involved in teaching Maths and English for the students of Grade 4 mostly because they understand a little bit of Hindi and communication is less difficult. I helped them in learning spoken English, by teaching them to speak a few basic and essential sentences as well as to give their introduction.

Along with two other volunteers, I helped the Principal in his preparation for an English exam in which my role was to understand and communicate the meaning of Shakespeare poems to my friends who then translated it in Bengali.

We have been organizing small competitions from time to time and also distributing prizes, books, stationery, chocolates, etc. as incentives to encourage studying. We conducted a minor Sports Meet on 17th March, 2012 in which races of various kinds were held and prizes were awarded. We encouraged and guided students to perform during the Scholarship distribution ceremony last semester, and thus a few girls danced and the remaining recited poems. I have been appointed as one of the Group Leaders since the beginning of first year and I have been assisting in the coordination the entire group.

My future NSS plans: I will definitely visit the school where I worked whenever possible to learn more about their requirements and the progress in students. I hope to be actively involved in teaching school children, preferably belonging to a Hindi medium school as it’s easier and more efficient from my point of view. In those schools where the teachers are not fluent in English (for example Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust School), I would like to help them in improving their spoken English.

Shubham Kumar (Literacy Group; Program Officer : Dr. P. Guha)

My name is Shubham Kumar, a second year student of the Department of Mining Engineering, I.I.T. Kharagpur and a native of dhanbad and an NSS volunteer since my arrival in the campus in first year. Few years ago, I didn’t know anything about NSS, even never heard about it. I just got the form for getting registered in NSS, but later on when I get completely involved in NSS through “Literacy Improvement Group” which provides free coaching to the students who can’t afford the good quality education under the guidance of Prof. P.Guha, then I realise the noble work being done by the students of IIT with the help of the professors (program officer). Even now, whenever I get free time, I devote myself for NSS. I have attended the first year NSS camp in Gholghoria village which gave the perfect representation of a village to be developed.

First year had already taken my 50% time to dedicate myself toward this giving coaching to 2 to 3 students, but in 2^nd year, when my program officer told me to hold the post of Group Leader of the whole unit, then I realized whether I really deserve to be on this position or not. Then, I finally took a promise to myself to really do whatever should be done to improve the literacy of the people living in and around the campus. I collected about 10 unpriviledged students in telugu basti and took classes for one semester. Then I decided if I can take classes for more than 10 students together and give them better education. So, I talked to the general secretary of the Gopali Youth Welfare Society (an NGO in gopali) and then started taking classes of the students of Jagriti Vidya Mandir, a school run by the society, so that, they can learn the things which are not taught in the classes as the school run only for 3 hrs. which is not enough to provide the proper education to them. I also involved some of the first years volunteers there to continue this for as much as possible, so that in future (when I left the institute) the students of the school would not be left without tuition classes after some period.

As, my time is going to be over being in NSS and my interest in doing social work in really increasing, so I have joined the Gopali Youth Welfare Society to be connected with the people in need, and do help whatever I can from my side.  That’s how, I am doing and will do the social service and remain involved in it till the end of my life.  

Sanket Sagar Dash (Village : Gholgharia; Program Officer : Dr. Manab K. Das)

My journey with NSS started in my first year in IIT Kharagpur (2010-11). It is a part of our institute curriculum for first two years. Though it started as a compulsory venture, it slowly transformed into a beautiful journey where I experienced the realities of life, the village life, and their living conditions. Then I went through a series of experiences with different village people, interacting with them, living their life for some time and felt a lot need to be done. My various activities are enlisted below.

1^st Year:

Being assigned a village called Gholghoria under Prof Chandan Chakraborty, I was part of a team of around 10 students including 2 second years who guided us throughout the year with their experience. We surveyed the entire village Gholghoria regarding the school conditions (students, teachers etc), the food quality available there, the condition of village roads (maintenance and repairing).I got the chance to interact with villagers feeling their pain, sorrow and desperation of such poor living condition. We made an effort and took extra classes for the school students. This was a beginning and we then planned to construct tube wells inside the village through donations from seniors. Though the project remained unfulfilled we hoped it helped the village people mentally as they felt that there are the youths caring for them. I finally made a lasting impact on the village through the NSS Camp where we, in a group, planted around 300 trees along the roadside making it add to the scenic beauty and surroundings, making the villagers feel that it is their duty to maintain the environment for their benefits and healthy living. We also distributed scholarships to the school students regularly to make them feel motivated towards studies. This interaction with village people and life imbibed in determination and dedication towards our society which needs us.

2^nd Year:

I continued in my second year in the village Gholghoria but under Prof Manab Kumar Das, who was very instrumental in supporting and guiding us. I was assigned the task of Beautification of Village. With a team of 10 volunteers we started off with the school premises. In the school backyard, I planned a garden where many small saplings and seasonal flowers can be planted adding to the beauty and making school students feel it as their own and take care of. The idea was successful and within the next few months we made it possible by planting around 50 saplings after thorough cleaning and leveling the soil. With the help of the school teacher and staff I ensured regular watering of the plants through them and inspiring the students to do so. Slowly the school students joined in and now we have many plants grown to sufficient height that they can become trees in near future providing shade to the school and its premises. It was a welcome response from the school students and inspired me to further take up another project of constructing a new fence in front of the school. I personally contacted and ensured that the fenced structure for plants and flowers was made ready within a month. We have till now planted around 35 saplings this year also and seeing the positive response would like to carry out further. Now the school students enjoy the plants and flowers in the backyard and are actively participating in plantation and watering work both. Now I feel finally our initiative to imbibe the feeling of belongingness among school students for their surroundings has paid off and this noble work started can be transferred from them to their parents and to the entire village in some work field or the other.

Experience and Conclusion:

After almost completing two years with the village and the primary school I feel nostalgic to leave them, but I will definitely try to keep in touch with this school and village through my program officer and make some visits to guide the NSS volunteers there. Every passion for social activity comes from within but there is an ignition necessary as is said “Success in 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”, I thank the NSS IIT Kharagpur for providing me the inspiration and guiding me in my journey of two years for social welfare. I hope this is just the beginning and I get ample opportunities in future to serve our society and nation. 

 

StudentSpeak : Part III

The following students were member of NSS, IIT Kharagpur central team. Their term ended in April, 2012 and a new student team has taken over. They were not assigned to any specific village / slum but traveled various units to cover MGNREGA awarness camp in one village to caste certificate camp in other or the 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda in the third etc. Besides, they published NSS Newsletter, maintained NSS website and participated other central activities.


Imbesat Ahmed

During my first year as an NSS volunteer, I was in the literacy group of Prof.P.Guha. I taught students of Kendriya Vidyalaya of IIT campus for few days. Then I started a new study center at Congress Office outside IIT campus. I and Ishan also taught children of cleaning staffs of MMM Hall in my room.

In my second year, my friend Ishan and I took an initiative of teaching students of class 11 of local schools with the co-ordination Prof.G.Saha. For the purpose we conducted a test and also selected 20 students. But unfortunately we could not take more than 4 classes because of unavailability of proper venue. Currently I am a member of NSS Central Team and my job is to write articles for the NSS Newsletter and also conduct interviews of some of the featured groups. Being inspired by the work of NSS, I have been conducting educational workshops for school students in different cities of the country for the last 1 year with Saif and Gyan. This summer I am organizing an awareness drive in rural areas of Bihar and Jharkhand with the co-ordination of respective governments and my team mate Saif and Ishan. I have also designed various workshops on different needs and prospects for creating awareness among students in about 10 cities of India. I  thank NSS to give me a platform to share my knowledge with others and I hope to continue it. 

Ishan Garg

During my frst year I was a part of literacy group of Prof. P. Guha. I was involved in teaching students of Ambedkar club and Disha Seema Centre initially and then moved to teaching children at the Congress centre outside IIT campus where i taught children of mess workers. Me and imbesat also taught children of cleaning staff of MMM hall in our room. We also taught a student naed Imran for AIEEE in last few weeks

During the beginning of second year me and imbesat had prepared a two year schedule to teach students for engineering entrance exams. We had conducted a test and selected 20 students for the same(with the help of Prof. Saha during last weeks of 1st year) but could continue more than 4 classes due to lack of proper venue. During the rest of my 2nd year I have been a part of NSS central team and my job has been to write articles for the NSS newsletter and cover events organised/facilitated by NSS.

This summers I will be a part of awareness drive organized with the help of respective govt. of Bihar and jharkhand for a duration of 25 days. Saif and Imbesat will also be there. After that in June i will be conducting medical camps in village near Bathinda, Punjab my home town with the help of an NGO Seva Bharti which I am a part of. This society organises medical camps for poor and also coducts games and other awareness campaigns in rural areas of Punjab. During my stay in NSS for past 2 years I have learnt a lot and I am happy to contribute on my behalf for the betterment of the society.

Saif Khan

During my first year, I was in Prof. N.D. Pradeep Singh’s group and the primary job of our team was to teach students of class 1-4 in Kasturba School in Balrampur Village. We taught the kids English, Maths, GK etc. and tried to be as interactive as possible irrespective of the communication problem. In my second year, I was fortunate enough to be selected in the NSS Central Team. Currently my job is to write editorials for the Newsletter and also to conduct interviews of the best performing NSS groups for the same. Our team is also involved in helping the Program Coordinator to the best of our capability as and when he needs us in various activities. Being a part of NSS, I not only realized the urgent need to do something meaningful for our society but the experience also brought a better person out of me. I look forward to continue my association with NSS in future.

Krishnakant Sijariya

During the first year, I was part of the NSS Group under Prof. S.S. Das. Our main duty was to teach the kids of the Kashijora Primary School where we closely monitored the progress of the students and made our best efforts to promote their academic performance. During my second year, I have been performing my duty of designing and editing the NSS, IIT Khragpur Newsletter, "Anuraag" as a part of the NSS Central team.

Gyan Prakash

During my first year as an NSS volunteer, I was in the Prof.chandan chakroborty group. I organised quiz comptition and drawing comptition in gholgoria village.  I was also  part of a team which surveyed the village gholgoria. in my 2nd year i was in the nss central team . I had covered all the event as a Nss Photographer . I had collected all the data from many villages , Soladhar, Talbagicha was few of them.

M Vivek Reddy

In my first year , I was part of Prof.Sudip Mishra's group. I was part of a team which surveyed the village 'pariapara'. I have prepared a presentation on health and hygiene to show to the students of primary school. I was part of a team which conducted various competitions .drawing etc., also we distributed sports material and stationary items to the primary  school students.. In my second year I have mainly updated the NSS website, covered MGNREGA awarness camp at Soladahar village etc..

StudentSpeak : Part II

Rohit Saraf (Village : Rangametia; Program Officer : Dr. Saumen Hajra)

I am from group A of Prof.  Saumen Hajra Group. This group is purely responsible for teaching senior students in the village Rangametia.  In the 3rd semester when I started as a group leader, I interacted with the 1st years and the 2nd years and we all started to teach the village girls. Initially, the numbers of students were less, but afterwards we managed to increase the number to 8 senior students.  Actually One Saturday I along with Prof.S Hajra visited the village and started finding students. We found 7 to 8 students of class VIII, who assured us that they would come from next Saturday. I taught them English and my friends taught
them Maths and Sciences. We made a good contact person in the village, Sri Dukh Ram whom I used to call every Saturday before going to school so that he can open the school. We created a good relation among the students and they were very positive from being taught by us.

Coming to this Semester, We started from 2nd  week and continued our teaching. We also went on the 28
th Jan (Kshitij, technical fest at IITKGP, week). However my volunteers told me not to go in Spring Fest week. So we didn’t go that week. In this Semester, I conducted a test among them in English. I also
awarded the topper a Prize (Instrument Box) containing Pen. The money was not solely given by me , It was shared by all of us. These days the village students are having exams in their schools, so they are preparing for that. So, on the 1st  day of Caste Certificate Camp, it was me and some more who were active and timely in distributing forms with B.D.O. (Block Development Officer) officials. I haven’t missed any meeting or any NSS working day if was not having any urgent work or I was not in IIT KGP.

Puja Gorai (Village : Sonamukhi; Program Officer : Dr. Abraham George)

In the first semester we took care of the BC Roy park. We also tried taking care of the B C Roy Hall of residence, but we weren’t granted permission for the same. Later half of the semester we observed a ‘Plastic Free day’, in which we distributed paper bags to the shopkeepers in Tech Market and motivated them to use Paper bags rather than Plastic Bags.

In my second year we were allotted the Hindi Primary School in Sonamukhi village. There I taught the children. Also guided them to present a group song on the occasion of Annual NSS day celebration. I also hosted the NSS Day programme and coordinated the whole event. Also was part of the ‘Tree Plantation Programme’ carried by our group.

This semester we have been allotted the Ambedkar School. I have taught the students there on regular basis. We have also conducted a Drawing competition there. 

Being a Bengali and knowing the language of the land, acted as a translator wherever necessary. (Be it with the villagers or be it with the shopkeepers or the school authorities). I was the main interviewer in the ‘No Plastic Campaign’ which was broadcasted by a Bengali News channel. Also spoke to the authorities oh the Tech Market, about banning the use of Plastic bags, which brought fruitful results. Was also an enthusiastic participant in the various rallies conducted by NSS, IIT Kharagpur.

I personally did not get a chance to teach children individually, but taught children in their school. (Hindi Primary School in Sonamukhi and Ambedkar Primary School). I prepared a poster which showed a cross on plastic bag and a tick on paper bag, inspiring people to use paper bags. Also made another poster which said: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Also another poster saying: ‘Carry a bag and say no to poly bags.’

Also as aked by Prof. G Saha about how I plan to serve the society in near future, I would like to inform that I visit Disha Sima Centre on regular basis and spend time with the kids there. I have organised for a movie show in Netaji Auditorium for them. Also have organised fun games for them. Also back home I have taught my maid’s kids and plan to continue the same whenever I find time. Also if God permits, in future I plan to help an Orphanage with all my support.

Ayan Acharya (Village : Ayodhyagarh; Program Officer : Dr. Rajiv Kumar Rawat)

As an NSS volunteer, I have always tried to abide by the NSS motto “Not me but You”. I have been the group leader of one group and I lead my group to the village Ayodhyagarh as regularly as possible. In our 1^st year, when our only activity was involving the school, we organised a drawing competition in the school, the drawings of which were displayed in our last NSS Day program. Being the group leader, I had taken the major responsibility in arranging the gifts for the best entries for my school. I had led a survey among the school students’ families to select 2 students for the Prerna Scholarship for the previous year, which has been done this year through a test. I had built a nice relationship with the school students and teachers, as an example of which, I can cite that after last year’s NSS Day program was over I had given a lift to the school teacher, on my cycle till Prem Bazaar gate. I ensured the regular distribution of the scholarship amount to the students every month by timely contacting the concerned seniors. During the NSS Camp last year I and one other of my group mates had stayed up whole night making all the posters of our group, which had earned a lot of appreciation. In cases of urgent needs like delivering invitation cards for NSS programs, at times I had to go to the village all by myself. I had taken up responsibilities of the soft boards and the posters to be put up there, during the last NSS program, which I had carried out efficiently, even in absence of my Program Officer. I had been a part of the team that had visited SDO Office, Dantan and had prepared a bullet point note of the entire day’s proceedings which came useful later. I am continuing my diligent service towards NSS this semester too through scholarship distribution, old clothes distribution, etc. I had also led my team in a census survey made last semester.

The motivation and good feeling that I have earned by serving the community through NSS during these years, has encouraged me to continue my service towards the community in whatever way possible. If possible, I would also like to remain associated with NSS and offer my help in organising events like the NSS Day or any workshops in the villages, where my junior volunteers might require the help of an ex-NSS volunteer.

StudentSpeak : Part I

ABHISEK DATTA (Talbagicha Village Unit : Program Officer: Dr. R S Chakraborty)

As a NSS volunteer I have taught physics to students of class X at the Talbagicha High School. I had also prepared question sets in physics, chemistry and mathematics, made 25 copies of them each and distributed it among them.

In future, I would like to find out poor people and workers like rickshaw pullers and others in our campus and hostels who can’t send their children to school due to economic hardships. I want to arrange for the education of these children in the nearby local schools and I have also organized a fund between some of my friends here to cover the required expenses.

I also want to be a part of the group which provides the money for the PRERANA scholarships for the students from the village schools.

SHABAHAT SHAKEEL   

(Ayma Village Unit : Program Officer: Dr. N. D. Pradeep Singh)

The venue of my work was Chhattisgarh Hiigh School. 

I Taught the students subjects like English, Mathematics along with G.K.

I helped the students to improve English through reading and pronunciation sessions.

I would like to continue with my work by visiting the school as frequently as possible.

Kanjakha Pal (Balarampur Village Unit : Dr. Prabodh Bajpai)

I have been a member of N.S.S. from the second semester and my tenure as a volunteer in N.S.S. has left an indelible mark on me and have left behind memories I will cherish for days to come. In the second semester I was a volunteer of Professor Abraham George’s unit and I was an active participant in the drive against use of environment polluting materials like polyethylene and advocated the use of environment friendly products like jute, etc.

 The next two semesters I have been working as a volunteer in Professor Prabodh Bajpai’s unit. Our group was subdivided into 3 subgroups-Teaching, Mapping and Youth awareness. I was delighted to be a part of the Teaching group because I was able to help many poor students in the village in improving their education and also I was able to live a dream I had cherished for a long time-teach the underprivileged. In the beginning since I was a second year student I, along with other second year students helped the first year students to acclimatize with the environment. Since language was a barrier in our quest, the entire Teaching Group was divided into small subgroups and allotted to students according to the ability of students to communicate in Hindi, English or only Bengali. From a modest start we have now reached a position where we run a full fledged coaching class for students of Balarampur on Saturdays. I am also the Reporting Leader of my group. From the start of the semester I keep track of the activities going on in all the subgroups in our unit and I make a monthly report describing all the activities of our group and the final report is dispatched to the N.S.S. Central Team for publication. We had conducted a Quiz Test at Balarampur High School where the meritorious candidates were selected on basis of their quiz performance. I was nominated to accompany Professor Goutam Saha to the Annual Prize Distribution Day of Balarampur High School where the prizes were distributed and the entire proceedings were documented in the Annual Report of our group. A football match was played between the members of Kasba Sangha and students of our group and I took the chance to collect statistical information about the members of the club and their day to day activities and hear about their problems. Talks are going on with the school authorities to hold classes in Balarampur High School after their school hours from the next session. Although teaching is my passion I am happy I have been able to work in all the subunits of my group in varying capacities and I feel this has contributed a lot to my overall personality development and the activity has brought me a lot of joy and satisfaction.

I also plan to engage myself in voluntary community activities for the rest of my life wherever I will be. I have observed over  my period of work as N.S.S. Volunteer that there is shortage of human manpower and even if a handful few could take some time off from their busy schedule and think of some involvement in community  activities the entire community would benefit immensely. 

Blood Donation on May Day

NSS, IIT Kharagpur has received a request from IIT Employees' Union for May Day blood donation. It will be held in Staff Club during 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM as given in the letter. This is the last blood donation camp organized in the campus in this semester; the last opportunity for those who missed out in earlier occasions. The demand for blood increases as the temperature soars. Thus, it is more needed now. NSS team invites the campus community to come forward and make the effort all success.