National Service Scheme (NSS) IIT Kharagpur

On August 12, 2017, 533 first year students were welcomed into the NSS program.  They were apprised of the origin and constitution of NSS at the national level; codes of conduct of NSS officials and students participating in the program; working area, organization and administration of NSS at IIT Kharagpur; and associated formalities, e.g., the position of NSS in the extra academic activities (EAA) program of IIT Kharagpur and grading policy.  The Program Officers, who head the fifteen units of NSS IIT Kharagpur were also introduced to those coming into the program. Professor Tapas Mondal of McMaster University, Canada also addressed the students on that day to introduce to them the technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a medical procedure that often becomes useful in saving lives of individuals suffering from cardiac arrest.  He also gave a hands on training to the students and other attendees as he frequently does in many countries.  Interestingly, h...

 

Midday meals at primary schools in and around Kharagpur are prepared mostly using fire wood.   With an objective of eliminating such a practice that disrupts the environment, IIT Kharagpur is funding procurement of three solar reflector ovens in the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan program.   An oven was procured in this initiative from PRINCE – Promoters, Researchers and Innovators in New and Clean Energy, of Dhule for evaluation at Upar Kenthia Primary School near Kharagpur for its usefulness in midday meal preparation.   Volunteers of Unit 6 finished its installation on March 25, 2017 and are currently trying to iron out initial teething problems.   Further, s ince primary schools of this region usually have no space for secure storage and installation of such equipment, Unit 6 and 8 volunteers guided by their Program Officers, Professors JN Roy and BM Manoj, are also trying to design a similar but folding system with a more efficient configuration and an automatic t...

A free health check-up camp was organized by NSS Unit-8 at Balarampur on April 1, 2017 for the women and girl students of Balarampur to create awareness on the need for better health facilities for growing teenagers and promote healthy lifestyle in the long run regarding common ailments, nutrition and hygiene and sanitation .   Nearly 90 women were served by 5 doctors.   While checking girls of about 13 years of age, the doctors provided counselling about potential health and hygiene issues.   Students were prescribed appropriate medications for their health issues which included hematinic, antibiotics and anti-helminthic medications. Common issues related to the students identified at the camp were headache, vision problems, stomach-ache, worm infestation, anaemia, dsymenorrhoea and menorrhagia.   Unit 8 volunteers took care of everything; from brining in a number of medical personnel to acquiring the appropriate drugs and making sure the doctors were comforta...

Unit 7 covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively.  Unit 7 volunteers teach at schools at Upar Kenthia and Benapur some 10-14 km away from IIT Campus.  They are also at hand arranging refreshments for school students and other participants of the celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day on campus or for doctors at the voluntary blood donation camps organized by NSS.  They also participate in road repair works at villages like they are seen doing in a few recent photographs accompanying this report at Rangametia. Photos:      

An eye camp was organized by NSS, IIT Kharagpur at Khelar on February 18 and 19, 2017 jointly with St John Ambulance Brigade, Kharagpur and Sankara Eye Hospital, Mukundapur, Kolkata.   A1 Biscuits and Lux Innerware of Kolkata helped organize the event as sponsors.   497 residents of Khelar Banpatna area, Ayma, Kashijora and Sholadahar villages were treated at the camp.   Prescription eye wear was distributed to more than 300 patients in the event without charge.   Of 82 patients deemed in need of surgical interventions, 40 were taken to Sankara Eye Hospital, Kolkata on March 27, 2017 – once again without charging them.   Transportation and the costs for the surgical procedure were borne by the hospital authorities.   Surgery for the remaining patients will be scheduled shortly. Photos:    

NSS organized their Annual Blood Donation Camp of at the Old Badminton Court of Technology Students Gymkhana on March 18 , 2017 in partnership with Kharagpur Voluntary Blood Donors Organization.   In the event 149 units of blood were collected by the Blood Bank of Bankura Sammilani Medical College Hospital .   The event would not have been possible without active help and participation of Technology Students Gymkhana – Professor Somesh Kumar, President, TSG and Mr Mandal and Sudheer, Sports Officers, TSG, in particular – and the Continuing Education Program of IIT Kharagpur.   Thanks are also due to the donors for their support in making the event a success. Donors’ certificates can be picked up from SR Sengupta Foundation Engineering Laboratory, the building between the Biotechnology and Cryogenics buildings, on any weekdays between 9:00a and 5:30p.   Before dropping by please set up an appointment by calling 9775550857 or 9647182769. Photos: ...