Maha govt ropes in NSS to promote its schemes

The Maharashtra government has decided to rope in National Service Scheme (NSS) student volunteers, to promote its and the Centre's flagship schemes.
However, this move by the BJP led government has raised the hackles of Shiv Sena and the Congress who have condemned the initiative to make use of NSS students to promote welfare programs.
The state government's Higher and Technical Education department's plans to promote schemes like "Beti Bachao..Beti Padhao", "Digidhan", "Swasth Bharat Abhiyan" and others through NSS students.
In a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the department on September 26, the government has listed out 70 targeted guidelines or tasks that the NSS student volunteers will have to achieve.

The list of "Things To Do" also includes adopting 3,000 villages in the state, trace out of school children, finding malnourished children in Adivasi areas between September to January, create awareness on giving up subsidy on LPG Cylinders, create digital awareness and literacy under Digidhan, open bank accounts under Digidhan, tie-up with Paani Foundation or Naam Foundation with a view to create awareness on water conservation.
The government has mandated that these programs be undertaken especially during Diwali, Christmas and Summer vacations.

The government argues that as per the NSS objectives, it is expected that those students who have enrolled themselves in NSS activities are expected to put in 120 hours in socially relevant activities.

The department in its meeting on May 5 earlier this year decided to list out 70 such guidelines which have to be carried out in the adopted village for which 80 hours contribution should be made.
Notably, the NSS launched in 1969 is described as a voluntary association of young people in colleges, universities and at Plus 2 level.
The students get incentive marks in their academics for their participation in NSS programs.
Lashing out at the governments move, Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said, "it is very wrong on the part of the government to rope NSS student volunteers in promoting its own schemes that too free of cost. It is alright if the students are told to participate in programs like Swacch Bharat."

"Do not use NSS student volunteers for free to promote government programs like Give Up Gas subsidy. These can be done by your party workers. Since these students get incentive marks for participating in NSS programs, it is wrong to use them for free in promoting your own government schemes," she added.
According to Kayande, there are about 800 odd colleges affiliated to University of Mumbai and there are roughly about 200 to 300 such NSS student volunteers enrolled in these colleges.
Reacting to the government's move, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Al-Naseer Zakaria remarked, "the government has first of all no vision or any policy on education. To make students work to promote your governments schemes is highly deplorable."

"One can understand if the government asks NSS student volunteers to take part in promoting cleanliness drives. But this kind of act in telling them to promote your own government schemes is highly deplorable," he added.