National Service Scheme Camp

(16-22 December 2013)

REPORT

Date: 16/12/13

The first day of the NSS Camp started off with NSS volunteers being enthusiastic and hopeful to learn many new things and themselves being able to contribute in return to the society. The camp was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by chief guest Dr. Rahul Jain, IPS Officer working with the Intelligence Bureau in Rajasthan. He shared his views about how we as NSS volunteers can work with the police and assist them to develop our society.

The first session of the day was taken up by the members of ‘Pravah’ NGO. This particular NGO helps people to be aware of their “5^th space”. The areas where each of us spends our time can be categorized into four spaces i.e. family, friends, leisure and career. The ‘5^th space’ thus can be created in the above four spaces and it refers to the reflection, transformation or rather ‘learning to learn from life’. The group talked about how one can create this ‘5^th space in political system. They were accompanied by Mr. Chakshu and Ms. Shreya from Delhi who again helped to clear our misconceptions about politics and how whether we like it or not each one of us is a politician the moment we talk about our streets, railways, etc and even in our day to day life we influence others decision making and that is what is the true meaning of ‘politics’.

Despite the fact that India is the youngest country in terms of population our representation in the politics is very few. Moreover most of the MPs are old and very less educated or even worse quite a few of them have criminal record. Therefore we as the youth got to be aware of what is going on around us and keep a review check on whether our chosen leaders are keeping their promises. The Ngo is currently working on a project called ‘My Space My Unmanifesto’ and they are collecting views from youth around the country as to what they want should be there in the manifesto. The session was a great influence on each one present and helped to change our negative views about politics in India and motivated us to be equally interested in choosing whom we want to represent us and make our own opinion.

 The second session was conducted by the members of NGO ‘Raksha’ who spoke about ‘Snake Bite Management’. Firstly they gave us information about different kinds of venomous and non-venomous snakes found in Rajasthan, by showing us pictures and giving basic knowledge about their shape, body pattern and fatal period. Later we were told about the dos and don’ts when one encounters a person bitten by snake. The first step should be the identification of the snake to know whether it is venomous or not and for the type of anti-venom to be given. Most importantly the bitten person should be reassured and kept calm because if the heart races the poisoned blood gets circulated all the more faster. The session was very informative and helped us to know the basic measures to be taken in case of snake bites. And in the end we all pledged not to use snake leather as one should always remember we humans have moved into their environment and not the reverse so we have no right to harm them for the sake of our superstitious beliefs.