RONO HILLS, Jul 18: The National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) organized a special camp at the ado-pted villages of Lekha and Tumru from 10 to 17 July.
During the one week stay at the village, the NSS volunteers conducted several community services besides taking up activities under the Swachh Bharat internship programme.
The volunteers conducted village and household survey of the twin village and organised gram panchayat meeting and identified the critical issues which needed immediate interventions.
Based on the need assessment, the NSS volunteers, along with the village community of Lekha, took up the issue of water scarcity in the village. They improved the intake point, thereby reviving the abandoned water collection infrastructure and cleaned the sedimentation tank.
The volunteers also improved the dilapidated school building at Lekha. Besides, the NSS volunteers cleaned the school compound of Tumru village, which is slated to start its first batch from the current academic session.
The volunteers also organised a swachhta rally and performed nukkad natak (street play) on various themes, like harmful impacts of using pesticides and weedicides, alcoholism, gambling, swachhtha and environment conservation etc, in the two villages.
The special camp was inaugurated by Gaon Burah of Lekha village, Tesi Teya, who narrated about the establishment of RGU and their consequent shifting from the university campus to Lekha village.
Dr VN Sharma, former state liaison officer NSS and vice chancellor of Arunadoy University spoke at length about the NSS and its role in nation building and personality development of youths through positive community engagement.
Attending the valedictory function, Joint Registrar (Academic & Conference) Dr David Pertin informed that under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, different departments of the university adopt several villages located in various parts of the state to carry out community development works.
He shared that Lekha-Tumru village cluster will also be experiencing interventions under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.
The NSS volunteers shared their experiences of the camp and received certificates from the invited guests.
Tana Tala, former gram panchayat chairperson shared that the main watershed of Lekha is Rono hills itself (where RGU is located). Therefore, he urged the NSS volunteers to help in maintaining the green cover for improving the water level in the catchment area.
NSS Programme Officer of RGU, Gomar Basar urged the villagers to form watershed management committees to maintain and improve the watershed and water intake point for uninterrupted water supply throughout the year.
He also said that the adult literacy programme will soon be launched in the village by NSS volunteers for making the village fully literate.
