The Regional Directorate of NSS, New Delhi, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India sanctioned a budget of Rs. 55,000 favouring Programme Coordinator National Service Scheme, University of Kashmir, Srinagar vide letter no P-34/NSS/RDD/2021-22/269, dated 02/03/2022, for conduct of one-day workshop cum seminar on ‘Swachhata’ for NSS volunteers of University of Kashmir and its affiliated colleges.

The office of the program coordinator, National Service Scheme (NSS) scheduled the workshop cum seminar on 17^th of March, 2022. The Program was held at Gandhi Bhawan of University of Kashmir. A total of 100 volunteers from University of Kashmir, Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Government Degree College, Eidgah, AAAM Government Degree College Bemina, Amar Singh College and Government College for Women,  Zakura-Batpora.

The day-long program had the following components:

1.      Registration and Breakfast                 10 AM                                               

2.      Brief Inaugural function                       10:30 AM

3.      Swachhta Pledge                                        10:45 AM                                       

4.      Technical Session I                                    10:50 AM

4.      Technical Session II                                  12 Noon

5.      Lunch                                                                                 1:00 PM

6.      Competition on the theme of Swachhata in the categories of Poster Making and Waste-collection.                                                        2: 00 PM

7.      Valedictory  Session                                 4: 15 PM

The Seminar cum Workshop was conducted with the aim of realising Prime Minister of India’s slogan ‘Na gandagi karenge, Na karne denge’.  The focus of the program was to inculcate a sense of responsibility among the NSS volunteers to lead others from front in the Clean India Movement. With NSS volunteers as the foremost partakers in cleanliness initiatives across the nation, the program revolved on further concretizing the vision of a ‘Clean India’ of Mahatma Gandhi.

The event began with all present in the auditorium taking the Swachhata Pledge, which reads as:

Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of an India which was not only free but also clean and developed. Mahatma Gandhi secured freedom for Mother India. Now it is our duty to serve Mother India by keeping the country neat and clean. I take this pledge that I will remain committed towards cleanliness and devote time for this. I will devote 100 hours per year, that is two hours per week, to voluntarily work for cleanliness. I will neither litter not let others litter. I will initiate the quest for cleanliness with myself, my family, my locality, my village and my work place. I believe that the countries of the world that appear clean are so because their citizens don't indulge in littering nor do they allow it to happen. With this firm belief, I will propagate the message of Swachh Bharat Mission in villages and towns. I will encourage 100 other persons to take this pledge which I am taking today. I will endeavour to make them devote their 100 hours for cleanliness. I am confident that every step I take towards cleanliness will help in making my country clean.

The Inaugural function of the program was attended by Dr. Musavir Ahmed, Program Coordinator, NSS, University of Kashmir and Mr. Manoj Kumar from Regional Directortate of NSS, New Delhi and program officers Dr. Henna Basharat, Dr. Yasir Hameed and Dr. Wakar. Dr. Shazia Malik, NSS Program Officer, University of Kashmir conducted the proceedings of the event . Dr. Musavir emphasised the role of youth especially student volunteers in elevating the nation to bring it at par with clean nations around the world. He highlighted the issues confronting by our environment and stressed the need for active participation of youth of our country in realising the Swathhata mission conceived around the country. He also spoke about the importance of starting a change from one’s home. Mr. Manoj Kumar who had come from Regional Directorate of NSS, New Delhi to witness the proceedings of the event reflected upon the role of NSS volunteers in promoting the flagship programs of Government of India including Swacchhta. He also elaborated upon the disciplined organisational structure of NSS units at institutional and state levels. Mr. Manoj appreciated the NSS Program Coordinator at University of Kashmir for the lead role the institution is undertaking in the promotion of NSS activities.  Thereafter Dr. Wakar Amin thanked the various stakeholders who contributed to the conduct of the program including the Regional Directorate of NSS, New Delhi for sponsoring the program on the vital issue of Swachhata.

For the first technical session, the organisers had invited Dr. Ibrahim Wani, Assistant Professor at Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir, who spoke on the theme “Essence of Swachhta in India”. Dr. Ibrahim presented an outline of the nature, structure and brief history of the flagship program of Swacchtaa of Union Government. He also emphasised the need for NSS units at Colleges, Universities and Schools to take benefit of various schemes of the government for the promotion of Swachhta.

In the second technical session Mr. Aejaz ul Haq, a noted columnist and public speaker from EMMRC of University of Kashmir talked on the theme of “Cleanliness as a Cycle”. Mr. Haq dwelled upon the life of an ordinary citizen and the significance of cleanliness in it. He emphasised how cleanliness affects all of us mentally and physically and how good habits of cleanliness affect all of us directly or indirectly. The speaker in his address encouraged the participants to be the change agents and create awareness about the importance of cleanliness among the masses.

The participants had a sumptuous lunch after the conclusion of the second technical session. At 2 PM the volunteers again gathered at Gandhi Bhawan for participating in the twin competitions; Poster-making and Waste-collection. Forty volunteers participated in Poster-making and 60 volunteers participated in Waste-collection. For poster-making, volunteers participated as solo on the broader theme of Swachhta; groups of 5 volunteers each participated in Waste-collection.  The volunteers were provided all required stationery, posters, colours of all types, bags, gloves, masks and sanitizers by the organisers.

Five program officers from colleges and two from university of Kashmir who also participated in the program constituted the jury for judging the waste-collection competitions, while as two faculty members from Institute of Music and Fine Art acted as judges for Poster-making

Towards the close of the program a valedictory cum certificate distribution function was held. Professor Aadil Amin Kak, Dean, School of Arts, Languages and Literature University of Kashmir was the chief guest and Professor Tabassum Firdous, Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Kashmir was guest of honor for the session. Professor Kak spoke on the role of educational institutions like colleges and universities in promoting the national program of Swachhata and congratulated the organisers and sponsors for organising meaningful and well-structured program. Professor Firdous emphasised personal and domestic aspects of cleanliness. The winners were given away trophies and all participants were given certificates of participation by the guests.

All the participants were provided a healthy breakfast at the beginning of the program, as participants had come from far off places. A sumptuous lunch based on individual choice was provided to each of the participants. For various competitions, the participants were provided all types of items required like stationary, musical support etc.