CSS - COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHEME

The Community Service Scheme is parallel to the National Service Scheme was introduced in Puducherry U.T. in 2003. It is unique that it has only been implemented in High Schools in Puducherry U.T. The primary aim of this scheme is to involve the students of High Schools in 8th & 9th standard in community service oriented activities.

The broad objectives of CSS are to:-

  • Understand the community in which they work;
  • Understand themselves in relation to their community;
  • Identify the needs and problems of the community and involve them in problem solving process;
  • Develop among themselves a sense of social and civic responsibility;
  • Develop competence required for group-living and sharing of responsibilities;
  • Gain skills in mobilizing community participation;
  • Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude;
  • Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and
  • To Practice national integration and social harmony.

CSS SYMBOL

The logo for community Service Scheme is presented below. It signifies the growth of children from lower levels to higher levels.

CSS MOTTO

SERVE TO GROW - GROW TO SERVE

The Motto for Community Service is "GROW TO SERVE AND SERVE TO GROW". The explanation for the motto is that if a child grows he/she should use the growth achieved to serve other and by serving others they further grow and it becomes cyclical and leads to continues growth of children. CSS DAY

The Community Service Scheme was inaugurated on 20th August 2003 and therefore, 20th August every year is celebrated as CSS Day.

PROGRAMMES:

REGULAR:
Literacy and Education
  • Functional Literacy.
  • Pre-School Education.
  • Educating the School-dropouts.
  • Work in Creches.
  • Running of balwadis.
  • School feeding programme.
  • School libraries & book banks.
  • Cultural activities.
  • Organisations of Youth Clubs, rural & indigenous sports.
  • Discussion on eradication of Social evils.
  • Community singing.
  • Awareness programmes.
  • Other activities.
Service during emergencies such as (Cyclone,Flood, drought, earthquake and Fire)
  • Assisting authorities in distribution of essential items.
  • Assisting the health authorities in inoculation, immunisation, supply of medicines and other related activities.
  • Assisting the local authorities in relief and rescue work.
  • Assisting the local people in reconstruction.
  • Collection and distribution of donations, clothes for affected people. Other activities.
Environment enrichment and Conservation
  • Preservation and upkeep of ancient monuments: creating consciousness about the preservation of cultural heritage; temple renovation.
  • Environment sanitation & disposal of garbage composting.
  • Construction and repair of roads, village streets, drains and cleaning of environment.
  • Construction of sanitary latrines, urinals etc.
  • Cleaning of village ponds and wells.
  • Creation of tree consciousness.
  • Plantation, preservation and up keeping of trees.
  • Preservation of soil erosion and work for conservation.
  • Popularization & construction of Gobar gas plants.
  • Pre-plantation operations.
  • Construction & laying of parks. Creating awareness among community about the problems of environment.
  • Advocating people on the preservation of forests and wild-life.
  • Popularization of solar/gas cookers.
  • Cleaning in slums.
  • Other activities.
Health, family welfare and Nutrition
  • Programme of Mass immunization.
  • Working with people in nutrition programmes.
  • Pathological examination.
  • Provision of safe and clean drinking water supply.
  • Integrated child development programmes.
  • Health education and primary health care.
  • Population education & family welfare.
  • Blood donation camps.
  • Help to patients.
  • Help to orphans and aged persons.
  • Help to physically handicapped & mentally retarded persons.
  • Setting up medical centres.
  • Carrying of medico-social surveys.
  • Assistance in running dispensaries.
  • Anti-drug addiction drives.
  • Other activities.
Production oriented programmes
  • Advocating advanced agricultural practice.
  • Rodent Control & Pest management.
  • Weed control.
  • Soil testing and soil health care.
  • Assistance for repairing agricultural machinery.
  • Work for the promotion and strengthening of Co-operative Societies in Villages.
  • Assistance & guidance in poultry farming, animal husbandry, care of animal health.
  • Awareness in use of fertilizers & hybrid seeds. Other activities.
Other Social Service Programmes
  • Work in Welfare Organisations of Women.
  • Imparting training to women in knitting, sewing, embroidery etc.
  • Awareness in women in exercising their rights.
  • Adoption of villages.
  • Conducting Socio-economic surveys.
  • Social Service to slum dwellers.
  • Awareness among people in the wake of banks for rural development.
FUNDS

Every CSS unit has 25 volunteers in High school, Government of Puducherry provides Rs.150/- per volunteer per year towards the programme development activities of CSS. Every school will get Rs.6000/- (after deducting Rs.1500/- for administrative expenses at the State level and at the Regional level) to meet expenses of out of pocket allowance to Programme Officers, refreshment charges to CSS volunteers, administrative expenses and contingencies.

INSTITUTIONS

The Community Service Scheme is implemented in 65 High schools of Puducherry U.T. spread out to Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam regions.

VOLUNTEERS

Any student, boy or a girl studying 8th standard in the High Schools can become a CSS volunteer by enrolling himself/herself in the Scheme in concerned High School. Each school enrolls 50 volunteers spread out to 8th and 9th Standards.

Each CSS volunteer is expected to put in 120 hours of work in Community service every year and for a total of 240 hours in two years. He is entitled for a certificate in CSS on completion of the work assignment which yields 3% weightage in HSC admission.

NGO

The Community Service Scheme itself is a service organization supported by government. There are quite a large number of Non-Governmental Organisations in the country in the form of youth clubs, Madhar Sangams (Mahila Mandals), Young Farmers Associations operating at the village level and many other service Organisations operating at the national and international level. These organisations may collaborate their activities with the CSS in order to consolidate and strengthen the service base and render effective service to the needy sections of the society.

PUBLIC

The Community Service Scheme is primarily aiming at campus to community activities and thereby making the students work with the people for their upliftment. Therefore, the general public should make use of the service of the student community whenever and wherever required. CSS always prefers need based activities and hence, the members of public need to approach the nearest college or school for service based assistance. They can contact the Principal or the CSS Programme Officer of the institution.

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