Report from Sonamukhi and Rakhalgeria Village Units

The month coming to an end, the report from individual units working at villages and slums have been received by NSS Central team. In spite of this being a mid-semester exam. week, the central team volunteers collated all the reports and sent it to NSS Regional Office at Kolkata, Program Adviser's Cell, Delhi and other officials before the month ends. We would like to continue with this team spirit and make our NSS engagement part and parcel of our life, a responsibility which is no less important even if termed extra-academic. In this and subsequent posts, we present glimpses of reports received from various units.

Sonamukhi Village Unit

The volunteers were busy actively teaching the students and training them for the Prerana scholarship test scheduled on 6th Oct., 2012. They also organised an essay writing competition for the students and gave them valuable feedback.

They have continued with their plantation programme in the school, and have identified and made it known to the Headmaster the need for a part of the compound wall to be repaired so cows do not eat the shrubs.

They took the initiative to teach people there the basics of computer softwares like MS Word and MS Paint, which was received very well by the students.

Rakhalgeria Village Unit

This month, drawing competitions were held in multiple schools, with prizes for the winners.

Educational movies were shown to the students using laptops and projectors. This was met with a very positive response by the children in the schools.

As per the request of the villagers, a number of books were donated to the local library for usage. Moreover, the monthly Prerana scholarship was distributed to the recipients, as well as students being helped for the test.

(The pic.s in the side bar are from Sonamukhi Unit and the ones at bottom are from Rakhageria Unit)

Sachinandan Basak Memorial Prize

Sachinandan Basak Memorial Prize recognizes the spirit of community service rendered through National Service Scheme (NSS), IIT Kharagpur. It has been a part of convocation at IIT Kharagpur. This year, Sri Imbesat Ahmed takes the prize on behalf of all fellow NSS volunteers who worked hard and sincerely, who represented what 'service' means - kindness put into action.

Our heartiest congratulations to Imbesat and all NSS volunteers who he represents.

The service rendered by Imbesat and his colleagues, as a part of the team NSS, IIT Kharagpur can be found in various posts of this blogs.

We received a 'Thank You' mail from Imbesat this morning where he gratefully acknowledges the support and encouragement he received from NSS, IIT Kharagpur to implement various ideas. He vows to take forward all his initiatives in this field with his teammates.

Our message to all NSS volunteers who we want to reach out through Imbesat, is this.

Dear Imbesat,

  

Congratulations!!!

We are sure that you will make us more proud in years to come.

  

We need people today who lead by examples and who lead from the front.

We need people who love the country - specially its poor and the underprivileged, who empathize with them, who show them a way by being close to them, by being a friend of them. Of all the things, social service is one which ought not be outsourced. Daan (contribution) without Maan (respect) is not complete. The distance has to be bridged.

  

For students studying here, the IIT and NSS experience together have all necessary ingredients to build oneself as a capable and complete individual. Hope and pray that these opportunities are used by all students and we have more Imbesats who will dedicate their service to the nation.

  

It has been and it is a privilege to work with students like you being a part of NSS and IIT Kharagpur family. Many name come to our mind who put a great service as NSS volunteer. We had to select one name. As has been our tradition in NSS, any accolade / award is recognition of the spirit of service which does not have any form. An individual is chosen as representative who takes the award on behalf of all those, who had shown that spirit in their thoughts and deeds. Through you, we salute the spirit of service of all NSS volunteers who are working hard and sincerely.

  

Congratulations once again and wishing you the very best

  

Program Coordinator

NSS, IIT Kharagpur

An Update

We received an inspiring mail from Sri Subhash Chand, A. P. A., NSS Program Adviser's (P. A.) Cell, New Delhi. He was commenting on our last month's report sent to him. Sri Chand wrote, "Well done...., do convey our appreciation to all the NSS family members (Volunteers and Programmme Officers) at IIT Kharagpur." Sri P. K. Patanik, Regional Head of NSS in Eastern Zone too appreciated the effort of our young volunteers and encouraged us to go beyond the state. He said that we would get due invitation from Principal Secretary of another state and all expenses would be covered. We take this opportunity to share these messages with the community that supports us, sustains us. We know that we can and we must do much. much more and we shall try our best for the same.

NSS, IIT Kharagpur has a very cordial and working relationship with SDO, BDO, Jt. BDO, Gram Panchayet Pradhan besides the people we interact regularly on field. Our NSS team has developed the Kharagpur-I Block website at the request of BDO office and the links are now populated with the inputs provided by Jt. BDO. Once the information are all provided and included, the website will be launched and will be dedicated to the community. We are eagerly waiting for this launch. We shall be very happy to extend this service to Panchayets and other Community Service providers. Needless to say, every service offered by us to community is free. It is an honour, an opportunity and an educative experience for us.

NSS, IIT Kharagpur has arranged water filter in a few schools. We are now asked to furnish information on status of drinking water facility in all village schools where our team works to the Govt. It is requested on urgent basis.  The other support requested from us  is spreading the message of Kissan Credit Card (KCC) enrollment which concludes on 16.9. 2012.  Govt. is providing loan through banks in proportion to quantum of land held. The effective rate of interest is 4% if repaid in time, else 7%. KCC is valid for 5 years. It helps to eradicate the problem of money lending by private players who charge very high interest. Also the crops get insurance coverage if loan is taken for harvesting crops through KCC. A May 11, 2012 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guideline to all commercial banks can be found here (Link).

 

The NSS team was invited to attend the KCC camp held at Gopali Gram Panchayet today. There was a brief meeting among Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) of the Block, Panchayet Pradhan and Program Coordinator, NSS IIT Kharagpur. The ADO requested support of NSS, IIT Kharagpur right from the beginning of next cultivation season (Boro paddy cultivation in West Bengal). The Pradhan was in all praise saying that we are trying sincerely and have been effective. The more we hear these, the more is our responsibility to rise to the expectation of the community and serve them to the best of our ability.

The PRERANA scholarship provided to needy but meritorious students of village schools (two in each primary school and more in high school) will have its scholarship exam.s in village schools on 06.10.2012 for Class III students. We have to prepare these students based on sample question paper provided. There is preparation for NSS Day function where villagers participate and we plan to have inter NSS unit awareness skit competition this time. There is convocation function, mid-sem. exam. in between. We are trying to make every available day and opportunity count.

It was heartening to receive a proposal from a member of our campus community to use an online training program for village schools (Link). This has been very successful elsewhere who consistently used its science and mathematics content. For this we need at class room end: One PC with Windows XP or above operating system, One USB Camera with stand, Projector system, Cordless Microphone, Audio system, UPS and Internet connectivity 512 Kbps or above. NSS team  is getting the response of the neighbourhood  schools which we are sure, will be positive. Then we need to look for fund. As mentioned in earlier post, we can offer service in kind. The grant is about Rs. 5000 per village per semester and that too is not available in time. 

We are thankful to our senior students and alumni for sponsoring the PRERANA scholarship. The sewing machine project where NSS volunteers want two swing machine to be provided to village self-help group (SHG) of women (plus training) is awaiting fund. At present these SHGs are doing mostly mid-day meal preparations in turn and not anything worthwhile. The district horticulture head has pledged support of his team to assist us in running pilot projects in each villages for kitchen garden. This, according to them, can cater to nutritional need of a poor family to a great extent. We are keen on this as the poor faces more burden in an inflationary economy with soaring vegetable price among the basket of commodities. We are waiting for fund for this too. We are thankful to our alumni office for helping us to connect.

We are happy to find that Vinod Gupta Leadership Scholarship in Agricultural & Food Engineering Dept. of IIT Kharagpur gives weight to contribution of a student in community service activity through NSS program. We are sure that such a recognition will inspire our volunteers more.

Finally, a short visit to two villages on a a Saturday where UNIT 3 of NSS IIT Kharagpur works, gave a glimpse of how our student volunteers were engaged. Here are a few pictures.

 

Ayma Village Unit : Last month

The volunteers of Ayma Village Unit (Unit 10) gives service to students of one Govt. High School for backward community. This has received lots of appreciation from school teachers and guardians. Each section of the school on every Saturday is addressed by NSS volunteers from 2nd period to the end of the school. There is cooperation from all concerned. Our IIT students focus mostly on English, Math, Science. 

Last month the unit organized a test to determine the proficiency of the students of the school, from class V to class XII in four components of English - reading, writing, listening and speaking. The analysis of the test results gave the group a very good idea about the way forward, and how they could best help the school children. The month also went into preparation for a cultural program cum academic  competition (elocution, quiz etc.) being arranged by the NSS volunteers in the school premise. The NSS volunteers rehearsed on a skit that they are going to present in the said function. 

On the occasion of Tulsi Jayanti celebration of this school, NSS family was invited. Students and teacher of the school came to meet us and to give the invitation card. It was very touching. The function was held on a Wednesday when NSS volunteers had academic engagement in IIT. The Program Officer of the unit and Program Coordinator participated in the function. They were given Sri Ramcharitmanas of Sant Tulsidas as present by the Headmaster of the school. It was found that the effort of the NSS volunteers have made deep impact and created a strong bonding with the community.  

This unit along with other units, enthusiastically participated in Independence Day function (Link). 

Ayodhyagarh, Rakhalgeria, Paschimpathri, Gholgharia Village Units : Last Month

Over the last month, Ayodhyagarh Village Unit (UNIT 2) arranged for and carried out the collection and distribution of books and cloth for the children of the village school. Responsibilities were divided between collecting the materials for distribution, calling the students from their homes, identifying them by class and finally issuing the books. Children from classes 1 to 4 were covered.

The volunteers of Rakhalgeria Village Unit (UNIT 3) took it upon themselves to try and impart some education to the school students beyond their mere school curriculum. They are trying to expose the children more and more to the world around them, and the kind of opportunities available if they pursue their education. They also introduced them to the concept of a computer and showed them some interesting things on the laptop screen, something most children there were seeing for the first time.

Paschimpathri Village unit (UNIT 4) took a wonderful initiative to organise a workshop and training session for making handicrafts for the purpose of sale, in Paschimpathri village. Around 25 women participated in it. Because of the positive feedback received, the unit plans to convert this into a weekly programme with a concurrent marketing drive.

Gholgharia village unit (Unit 6) spoke at length to the villagers to find out the major problems they were facing. Thereafter, a sub-group dealing with educational development was given the task of teaching students of the primary school. Students of the group take shifts and try to visit daily to teach for some hours. On a different note, a tree plantation programme was arranged for over the barren land of the school premises. Around 60 sapling were planted and a protective fence put around to keep out grazing animals.

All the units enthusiastically took part in Independence Day function (Link).