s we welcome the beautiful morning of 64th year of specialist care. And here we have spoken only of a few

the Indian Independence with much ceremonies conspicuous issues, out of the seemingly infinite total.

and celebrations, we often get lost in the real The idea of putting forth these statistics was not to upset Ameaning of the word “independence”. Or to anyone, but to realise the gravity of the situation and the

question ourselves thus, have we really gained independ- fact that we still have a long way to go. And here comes into

ence? Granted we have driven away the British, our picture organizations such as National Service Scheme

oppressors for centuries, but have (NSS) which with its motto “Not

we done the same with perhaps the me, but You” has long been

bigger evils that continue to lurk involved into a gamut of selfless

within us and plague our mother- social service. NSS aims at not only

land? It's worth bearing in mind that to bring about a meaningful

a Nation falls not due to any external change in the society we live in but

offensive but from the rot devel- also to us, the volunteers and helps

oped inside. Today the fight for bringing a qualitative change in

independence is not against an our social life, not only in our

ostensible target like the British but national space but in our personal

a much more deep set and cloaked space too.

adversar y. Pover ty, hunger, The NSS Team wishes A Happy

untouchability, discrimination, Independence Day to all of its

corruption, illiteracy etc. are what we have to be recalci- readers and together with them remembers the sacrifices

trant against and seek independence from. It is about that gifted us this day. NSS also extends a warm welcome

promoting an egalitarian society in which all persons to the freshers and hopes for their joyful and responsible

receive the essentials of a decent living that they are living in IIT KGP.

entitled to. Consider the facts: India tops the world hunger

chart with 230 million people being undernourished. The

World Bank says 42% of India's population lives below the

global poverty line of Rs.50 per day. Nearly one million

Indians die every year due to inadequate healthcare

facilities and 700 million people have no access to

Anuraag | The NSS Newsletter15th August, 2011

Independent! Are we?

ED

ITO

RIA

LFEA

TU

RED

Youth Week Function - At a glance

EDITORIAL TEAM

Dr. Goutam Saha Saif Khan

Imbesat Ahmad Ishan Garg

Krishna Kant Sijariya Gyan Prakash

Local teachers being felicitated by NSS

Volunteer appreciated for exceptional workDignitaries gracing the ocassionPlay being performed by volunteers

Volunteer paying tribute to Rabindra Nath TagoreWinner of the inter-village drawing competiton

Anuraag | The NSS Newsletter15th August, 2011

Advisory Committee Meetingn 7th July, 2011, NSS advisory committee agement, promotion of legal education, campaign on

meeting was held at Board Room chaired by p e r s o n a l

Director, of I.I.T. Kharagpur. The participants h y g i e n e , Oincluded S.D.O., Kharagpur; representative of s a v i n g s o f

Nehru Yuva Kendra, Midnapore; Program Adviser from water and elec-

Regional Head Quarter of NSS; Dean, UGS; representa- tricity etc. In

tives of nearby N.G.O.s, Program Officers and student the words of a

volunteers. The dignitaries praised the activities under- student repre-

taken in the previous year and suggested means to sentative who

strengthen activities in the current academic year. A was present in

closer coordination with local Govt. officials was dis- the meeting,

cussed in implementing various Government welfare “ W h a t I

schemes. S.D.O., Kharagpur assured support to convert observed is if,

one backward village where NSS team works, to a we really work hard then we are not short of apprecia-

model village and later extend that to other villages. tion, there are people in management who are ready to

Nehru Yuva Kendra wanted to help in overcoming lan- support our activities and are determined to make a

guage barrier which is often faced by I.I.T. student vol- honest change. And as a student volunteer I must say,

unteers while interacting with local population. Specific these accolades are immensely welcome in boosting

suggestions was made on activities related to preserva- our motivation level in addition to satisfaction which we

tion of monuments and cultural heritage, disaster man- get from working in field.”

NSS

BU

ZZ

n 3rd April, 2011, NSS-IIT Kharagpur organized donors. Each had a proper medical check-up by the

a blood donation camp in association with B.C doctors of the Sub-Divisional hospital and only

.ROY Technology Hospital, IIT Kharagpur and medically fit people were allowed to donate blood. The OSub-Divisional Hospital, Kharagpur. As a run up donors were given fruits and beverages after donation

to the event, NSS team launched an awareness drive and their marvelous effort was acknowledged by giving

with posters, emails, posting Frequently Asked them a certificate of appreciation. The camp ended at 3

Questions etc. A web based registration was followed PM when the blood bank officials exceeded their

by allocation of time window to individual donors capacity. The effort of NSS team was lauded, more so,

through SMS. The collection started at 10 AM. NSS because this was the time of the year when blood banks

volunteers, the student community and institute face the maximum scarcity.

professors along with their family turned up as blood

Blood Donation Camp

AC

TIV

ITIE

S

The NSS Philosophyhe motto of the National Service Scheme (NSS) is social welfare thoughts in the students, and to provide

"Not Me, But You". This expresses the essence of service to the society without any prejudice. The overall Tdemocratic living and upholds the need for aim of National Service Scheme as envisaged earlier, is

selfless services and appreciation of another man's to give an extended dimension to the higher education

point of view and also shows consideration for fellow system and orient the youth to community service

human beings. This programme is to inculcate the while they are studying in educational institution.

CO

RE

students.Anuraag Gutgutia shares his experience at NSS in an

interview with us. Q. What changes you suggest in the

working procedure?Q. What was your main task in the last year?A. NSS is doing a fantastic job in A. I was the group leader for an NSS group responsible for the social field but there are large village survey under Prof. Saumen Hajra. My major task was white spaces where improvements carrying out a detailed survey of the two villages namely are required. I would really Rakhalgedia and Rangamatia , identify the problems the suggest that NSS should take the villagers were facing in any respect: social, economic, initiative in promoting the spirit of cultural and political ;frame out plausible solutions. social entrepreneurship among its

volunteers. Q. Do you feel that your hard work was efficiently utilized by the

people? Please mention ,if you have any example. Q. What is your message to the freshers?

A. 'We collected the one hundred and forty slippers from A. Don't take NSS just as a part of your academic curricular.

the store, and carried them in our bicycles to the There is a greater dimension to it. Be passionate, do your

Raklalgeria village. A huge crowd was encountered on that best. The ecstasy you derive out of helping others will

very day and children were very happy to come there remain with you for a much longer duration than any

barefoot and go back with slippers in their feet.' Though material possession ever can.

NSS volunteers have worked hard all throughout, there is

potential for more and more. I would like to see more “Social service is in each one's blood, now it's time for

innovation in the social welfare being done by the you all to bleed.”

Anuraag | The NSS Newsletter15th August, 2011

Volunteer TalkFEA

TU

RED

NSS

BU

ZZ

“We should have but one desire today — the groomed in his formative years and the inspiration

desire to die so that India may live — the desire to he received studying Vivekananda.

face a martyr's death, so that the path to freedom On this day, the NSS team stands to salute all the

may be paved with the martyr's blood.” martyrs and this great son of our Nation and

remembers the sacrifices that made each of us a free

his cry for freedom and proud citizen of this great Nation. We would like

by our be loved to place here few of his quotes that motivate one Tl e a d e r S u b h a s and all:

Chandra Bose, popularly

referred to as Netaji, holds “It does not matter who among us will live to see as much significance in India free. It is enough that India shall be free and this date and age as it did

that we shall give our all to make her free.”during the years of

Independence struggle. “Friends! I would implore you to assist in the Netaji was a great revolu-

awakening of youth and in the organization of the tionary and one of the

youth movement. Self-conscious youth will not most prominent personal-

only act, but will also dream; will not only destroy, ities in the saga of the

but will also build. It will succeed where even you Indian Independence whose charisma and immense

may fail; it will create for you a new India -- and a patriotism culminated in such daring struggle and

free India -- out of the failures, trials and experi-legendary sacrifices that it's a part of folklore now.

ences of the past.”He is a perfect ideal for today's youth: A great

scholar, his strict adherence to principles and a “You are today the custodians of India's national

never-say-die attitude coupled with an unmatched honour and the embodiment of India's hopes and

love for his country is a guiding light for each of us. aspirations. So conduct yourself that your

His leadership brought people of all communities countrymen may bless you and posterity may be

together and also established the first women proud of you.”

regiment in Asia named The Rani of Jhansi

Regiment. His biography shows how he was

Tribute

“I am very glad that the NSS Chapter of IIT Kharagpur will be celebrating Independence Day on th

15 August 2011. The NSS Chapter of IIT Kharagpur has provided excellent services for the upliftment of the academic programmes pursued in the rural schools in the vicinity of the IIT Kharagpur campus by conducting various programs which have been highly appreciated by the student and the teachers of these institutions. The NSS has also undertaken some developmental work and health awareness programmes in the rural areas. I expect that NSS will not only continue such activities with additional zeal but also will initiate new programs in the coming years.

I wish them all success for the programme.”

Anuraag | The NSS Newsletter15th August, 2011

Dr. A. GeorgE

Dr. m.k. dasDr. D. Roy

Dr. D. DHARADr. C. ChakrabortyDr. B. Sahoo

Dr. r.s. chakrabortyDr. p. Guha

Dr. p. bajpaiDr. n.d. pradeep singhDr. m.p. rajak

Dr. s.hajra Dr. s. mishra Dr. s.s. das

Dr. s. taraphder

Dr

. g

OU

TA

M s

ah

a

Dr

. p

.k.b

ho

wm

ick

HEAD

COORDINATOR

Volunteers

Message from the Deputy Director

SPEC

IALS

PR

OG

RA

M O

FFIC

ER

S

The NSS Team