NSS urged to prepare for disaster preparedness

Bhubaneswar: The National Service Scheme (NSS) should explore possibilities for educational intervention in online education in remote areas in addition to its regular activities, Bishnupada Sethi, State’s Principal Secretary in the department of Higher Education, said.

NSS Programme Coordinators and District Programme Officers should also train the volunteers in road safety keeping in view the rising number of accidents and play a role in helping the State in disaster preparedness, Sethi said while speaking at the state-level review meeting of NSS functionaries held at SOA recently.

As Odisha is prone to frequent natural disasters like flood and cyclones, NSS should help in disaster preparedness for protection of life and property, he said.

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Pankaj Kumar Singh, Director, NSS, said the organisation’s motto ‘Not Me, But You’ inspired people in the society to be good human beings.

“NSS is more than relevant in the present atmosphere when there is undesired emphasis on career,” Singh said adding NSS connects to a larger and broader community.

Sarita Patel, Regional Director, Odisha unit of NSS, welcomed the guests while the State NSS Officer and Deputy Secretary in the department of Higher Education Dr. Ramesh Chandra Behera spoke about the various NSS activities being undertaken in Odisha. Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee, Pro-Chancellor of SOA, who presided over the meeting, narrated his experience as a NSS volunteer during the foundational years of the organisation between 1969 and 1973.

Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, SOA’s Programme Coordinator, NSS Bureau and Director, University Outreach Programme, proposed the vote of thanks.

Two NSS volunteers and a Programme Officer, chosen for the national level NSS Award including Pratik Dash of SOA, were felicitated on the occasion.
They will receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on September 24, which also happens to be NSS Day.

NSS District Programme Officers from all districts and Program Coordinators from different universities and higher education institutions attended the meeting. The dignitaries also visited the blood donation programme conducted in the university to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.