“Udbhav: Shiksha Ki NayiUmang”, an initiative by NSS IIT Roorkee to promote extracurricular activities in schools

Roorkee: National Service Scheme (NSS), IIT Roorkee has taken an initiative ‘Udbhav: Shikshaki Ek Nayi Umang’ to emphasize the importance of extracurricular activities in the life of a student and make an effort to provide education in a more interactive way, especially for underprivileged children from economically backward families.

This initiative was started in the CBRI government school which primarily has children from poor families including wards of parents who primarily earn their livelihood from domestic help and are not literate. In this school, activities such as dancing, music, painting, gardening and movie sessions were introduced to students from Class 1st to 8th standard. Taking this initiative forward and to provide a permanent source of education, NSS IITR also made a significant effort to renovate the existing unused rooms to build the “Kiran Library” in the school which was intended to bring in the rays of knowledge into the young minds. The library was inaugurated by Prof. Pranita Sarangi, faculty advisor, NSS IIT Roorkee along with CBRI school principal Mrs. Lata.

The new library consists of about 900 books collected from various faculty members and schools around Roorkee. Post collection, all the books have been further categorized according to different genre and classes. Library cards were also issued to all the students to keep a proper record of books. In spite of unavailability of proper electric connections and lighting facilities, using multiple laptops NSS team members screened the “HICHKI” movie which motivated the students. Additionally, cleanliness, wall paintings and sapling plantation drives were also conducted by the volunteers to improve the ambience of the school. To motivate the children drawing competitions and prize distribution ceremony was conducted by NSS volunteers. This idea was conceptualized collectively by members of various cells of NSS-IITR and was implemented under the leadership of NSS-IITR joint secretary Mr. Singh Rahul Kumar Sunil. Significant contribution also came from Mr. Sheetal Bijale and Mr. Akshay Meena of NSS-IITR team.

Expressing his views on this initiative Mr. Rahul Kumar, said “Extracurricular activities are equally important as academic education for every student’s all round development. Our initiative will not only help the students to meet new people with whom they share their interests but also help them to improve their social skills. This is an effort from our end for students to expand their horizon and help them in finding new career opportunities for them”.

The General Secretary of NSS IIT Roorkee, Pritesh Sonar decided that NSS-IITR team will conduct regular extracurricular activities for these underprivileged students and support their overall development. NSS-IIT Roorkee, believes in the motto, “Not for me, but for the Nation” and this initiative was another step towards the fulfillment of the same.