Bhubaneswar: Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary Higher Education has advised that the National Service Scheme (NSS) should explore possibilities for educational intervention in online education in remote areas in addition to its regular activities.
The Principal Secretary Higher Education has said that the NSS Program Coordinators and District Program 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.
Mr. Sethi said while speaking at the state level review meeting of NSS functionaries held at SOA on Saturday.
As Odisha was known to be a state prone to frequent natural disasters like flood and cyclones, NSS should help in disaster preparedness for protection of life and property, he said.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Director, NSS, said the organization’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 of undesired emphasis on career,” Mr. 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, Higher Education 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 organization between 1969 and 1973.
Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, SOA’s Program Coordinator, NSS Bureau and Director, University Outreach Program, proposed the vote of thanks.
Two NSS volunteers and a Program Officer, chosen for the national level NSS Award including Pratik Dash of SOA, were felicitated on the occasion. They will receive the award from the President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on September 24 observed as NSS Day.
NSS District Program Officers from all districts and Program Coordinators from different universities and higher education institutions attended the meeting.
The dignitaries also visited the blood donation program conducted in the university to mark the birth day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.