1st NE NSS fest kicks off
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 13 2013: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi inaugurated the 1st Northeast National Service Scheme (NSS) Festival, 2013 at the Indoor Hall of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex here today.

The festival is being organized by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS), Manipur under the aegis of Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the NSS volunteers have been working earnestly to promote social harmony in the country.

The idea of involving students in the task of national service dates back to the times of Mahatma Gandhi.

1st NE NSS fest kicks off

The Father of the Nation wanted the students to know their social responsibility and make significant contributions to the nation.

He further said that the post-independence era was marked by an urge for introducing social service for students, both as a measure of educational reform and as a means to improve the quality of educated manpower.

In 1958, the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru mooted the idea of having social service as a prerequisite for graduation.

Ibobi continued that the entire Northeastern Region is full of unexplored sports talents in specified sports disciplines.

With proper nurturing and tapping of these talents, players from this region would certainly be able to bag more medals in the international level competitions and the Olympic Games, he added.

Chief Minister also appealed to the youths to take part actively in campaigns for eradication of social evils and popularization of the nationally accepted objectives like nationalism, democracy, secularism, social harmony and development of scientific temper.

Head of NSS, Guwahati Regional Centre Sunil Basumatary, in his keynote address, said that the Government of India has sanctioned for organizing four NSS festivals in the Northeast during the current financial years.

Three other festivals would be organized at Shillong, Aizawl and Agartala during January and February next year.

The inaugural function was presided over by Parliamentary Secretary of YAS M Prithviraj while Commissioner of YAS and Art & Culture RK Nimai attended as Guest of Honour.

Around 350 NSS volunteers from eight Northeastern states including Sikkim are taking part in the festival.

Apart from academic and cultural sessions, a field visit to Moirang would also be organised during the 5-Day long festival.