National Service Scheme (NSS)

The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a community service programme with the objective of building social consciousness in students. NSS provides an opportunity to students in the capacity of volunteers to venture out of their comfort zones and make a difference to society. Inspired by this philosophy, the curriculum of the NSS chapter of Lady Shri Ram College, which was set up in 1968, comprises a gamut of events and activities undertaken by volunteers who have channelized their creativity and spirit of volunteerism to bring about meaningful change.

Apart from being a part of activities launched by Delhi University NSS, we, at LSR have undertaken numerous projects that focus on a broad spectrum of issues in different social spheres which include education for underprivileged children, caring for the elderly, intervention techniques for the differently-abled, working with animal shelters and health centres associated with patients suffering from AIDS and Cancers of various kinds, social entrepreneurship and women empowerment. Every year more than 700 volunteers work ceaselessly and engage in various issues of social concern.

The NSS programme endeavours to sensitise the students to various social issues through discussion, debate, talks, seminars, workshops, music, awareness campaigns, street theatre and confluences. NSS-LSR has also had the honour of hosting eminent personalities including, among others, politician and retired police officer Ms. Kiran Bedi, social activist Dr. Suman Aggarwal, Kargil War Veteran Major DP Singh, Animal Rights Activist and esteemed member of parliament Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Virologist Dr. Shahid Jameel and Dr. Gagandeep Kang, and cyber-security expert Mr. Rakshit Tandon. Apart from this, we have worked closely with renowned organisations such as Teach for India and have collaborated on disaster mitigation programmes with JNU and Road safety workshops with Honda.

Additionally, NSS LSR also hosts three annual events including – (i) Kala: a celebration of children’s creativity and innovation through art and craft, (ii) Noor: the NSS Diwali Mela which serves as a platform for our projects, various NGOs and female entrepreneurs to showcase their products and for the student body to rejoice in this celebration of the festival of lights, and (iii) Nexus: a youth convention where young minds deliberate on social issues of present and future concern. In the current academic session (2022-2023), we revived this historic tradition of ours on campus after 3 long years of adapting to the pandemic virtually.

Kala’22 was organised in September wherein NSS-LSR invited children from our associated projects who brought the campus to life with colours, laughter, music, and dance. This year’s theme, ‘Kudrat aur Kala’, honored and celebrated the relationship between art and nature and revived the platform that we provide for our children to showcase their talents. Thereafter, in October 2022, the light of our campus, Noor, was brought back to the college back lawns. This year’s theme, ‘Noorarambh: New Beginnings in the post-pandemic world’, commemorated the homecoming of Lord Rama and celebrated Elsas’ homecoming to LSR. This festival of love and light brought colorful stalls, DJ, food corner and upcoming entrepreneurs to LSR.

NSS LSR with a legacy of over 60 years continues to make a difference and contribute to the world outside while staying true to its motto of Serve, Learn and Change.