NSS Unit at Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon organised a seven – day special camp from 14th February to 20th February 2013 on the theme of “Youth for sustainable Development special focus on Watershed Management and Wasteland Development” to provide an environment conducive for democratic and cooperative way of life in society.

Inaugurating the Camp on 14th February, Dr. Girish K. Tuteja, Director, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, New Delhi addressed that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of the society as a whole. He stressed that the college has opportunity to have a large number of NSS Volunteers in the field of social services. Hon’ble Chief-Guest Dr. Girish K. Tuteja shared his views with the students and encouraged them to take more initiatives for social welfare of the people and to work more towards the needs of the society.

The volunteers conducted a socio-economic survey of the village, which helped them bring socio-economic issues in the open and instilled time management, discipline and leadership qualities among them. They also presented a skit on Corruption, Women Safety Waste water management and showed a documentary on NSS.

As a part of the seven days special of camp, more than 110 NSS volunteers on 15 February visited slum areas of Sectors 9 and 10 in Gurgaon City and interacted with them on Literacy, Addiction, AIDS, Pulse Polio Immunisation, Family Planning, Communal Harmony, Save Girl Child and Environment conservation etc. These families are mostly deprived and poor, surviving with low literacy rate, malnutrition, hunger and lack of sanitation. Volunteers stressed upon the inhabitants about the necessity of education and cleanliness. They also conducted drawing – competition among them and encouraged with some gifts to participants.

Volunteers also collected socio-economic data, information about prevailing drinking facility and sanitary condition of the areas. Under the guidance of NSS Program officers Mr. Ashok Kumar and Mrs. Sangeeta Singla, they also distributed books, pencils, pens, chalks, colours, biscuits, chocolates, fruits etc among the family members of slum areas. As a result, the people at slum areas also shared their day-to-day problems and their willingness to do better in services of the Nation.

On 16th February 2013 NSS Volunteers of Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon visited Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Bhola Kalan, Gurgaon along with Program Officers Mr. Ashok Kumar and Mrs. Sangeeta Singla. The objective of this visit was to uncover the inner spirit that is always present, but hidden beyond the ego-personality; to learn not to let outer circumstances influence our inner being and state of mind.

They eagerly saw the spiritual valley of the centre in the guidance of Mr. Ashok, Administrator of the Om Shanti Retreat Centre. Sister Priti, Trainer delivered a talk on “Self-Empowerment”. Addressing more than 100 volunteers she said that man is a being made up of a material body and a spirit called Soul. So, for success in this worldly life, happiness, peace and mukti -liberation of soul, materialism and spirituality are two complimentary and supplementary indivisible factors. Each and every day of ours passes by with complicated problems, experiences and sufferings in life. She expressed that the majority of us are devoid of mental peace, experiencing turmoil and sorrow due to sufferings and failure in life and actions contrary to our expectations and beyond our control and sufferings from diseases, the reason of which is not known. Degradation of ethical values in life has been devouring mankind in a more deadly fashion than cancer. Neither Science nor Materialism can save mankind from this moral degradation and great fall.

Another speaker and Trainer at Mt Abu, B. K. Bhagwan shared his views on moral Education and Relevance of Spirituality for success. He explained that Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming conscious our inner being. It means the rising of the consciousness beyond the ordinary existence, and awakening to some Universal truths. Spiritual growth is a process of shedding our wrong and unreal conceptions, thoughts, beliefs and ideas, and becoming more conscious and aware of our inner being. Spiritual growth is of great importance for everyone, not only for people who seek spiritual enlightenment and choose to live in far away or secluded places. Spiritual growth is the basis for a better and more harmonious life for everyone, a life free of tension, fear and anxiety.

The visit was useful as they came to know that spiritual growth is not a means for escaping from responsibilities, behaving strangely and becoming an impractical person. It is a method of growing and becoming a stronger, happier and more responsible person. They learnt that a balanced life requires that we take care not only of the necessities of the body, feelings and mind, but also of the spirit, and this is the role of spiritual growth. The NSS volunteers also learnt the importance of discipline, attitude, integrity, tolerance and meditation for leading a successful life and contributing their services to the Nation.

On the closing ceremony of the Special Camp dated 20 February, the Chief-Guest Hon’ble Princpal Prof. (Dr.) B. M. K. Prasad addressed that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of the society as a whole. He stressed that the college has opportunity to have a large number of NSS Volunteers in the field of social services. On this auspicious occasion the volunteers delivered a message through skit, dance, poem and other cultural programs on Right to Education, Women- Empowerment, Traffic- rules, Nuclear Waste Management, Waste Water Management, Cleanliness, Literacy, Leadership, and Patriotism etc.

The camp came to an end with a vote of thanks by one of NSS Program officers Mrs. Sangeeta Singla who expressed her heart-felt gratitude to the Principal, NSS coordinator and appreciated the willingness of volunteers to do something more in making the Nation developed. The certificates for participation were given away by the Chief- Guest Hon’ble Principal Prof. (Dr.) B. M. K. Prasad.