President gives away Sports & Youth Affairs Ministry’s NSS awards to 42 people

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 24

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday gave away the National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2019-20 to 42 people in three different categories virtually from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The awards are presented under the aegis of the Ministry of the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports. Minister for the department Anurag Thakur and minister of state Nisith Pramanik were also present during the virtual ceremony from Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said, “The edifice of human life is often built on the foundation of student life. Although learning is a life-long process, basic personality development starts during the student's life. That is why he considers NSS a visionary scheme through which students get an opportunity to serve the society and country during their school and college days itself.”

Pointing to the fact that the NSS was established in 1969, on the occasion of the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, Kovind said that the Father of Nation devoted his entire life to the service of humanity.

Lauding the efforts of the NSS the President said, “During the initial outbreak of Covid-19, till the mass production of masks started, more than 2.3 crore lakh masks were made by NSS and distributed in various parts of the country. NSS volunteers provided Covid related information to people through helpline as well as helped district administrations in the awareness and relief activities.”

The NSS Awards were instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in 1993-94 on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Year of National Service Scheme. The aim of these awards is to recognise and reward outstanding contributions towards voluntary community service made by the Universities/ Colleges, (+2) Councils and Senior Secondary, NSS Units/ Programme Officers and NSS Volunteers.

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