Arjun Pradhan becomes first NSS programme officer from Sikkim to receive My Bharat-NSS Award

ISABELLA GURUNG

RANGPO, : MY Bharat National Service Scheme (NSS) awardees Arjun Pradhan, who is the NSS programme officer of Sichey Government Senior Secondary School, and school principal Yangchuk Donka were warmly welcomed by the All-Sikkim Teachers’ Association at the Tourism Information Centre, Rangpo, today.

The welcome programme was organized under the leadership of area MLA Kala Rai.

The duo received the award from President of India Droupadi Murmu at an event held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 6. Arjun also received a silver medal, certificate, and cash prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, while Sichey SSS received a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh for the development of the school.

Arjun Pradhan made history by becoming the first NSS programme officer from Sikkim to receive the highest national award. The award acknowledges his 10 years of dedicated service in promoting social responsibility, youth empowerment, and community development through the NSS.

Expressing pride in receiving the award from President Droupadi Murmu, Arjun said, “Both Principal Donka and I went to receive the award in person. Currently, there are about 4.2 million NSS volunteers in India and nearly 2 million programme officers. Out of these, only 10 programme officers receive this particular award. When a programme officer receives the award, the whole NSS unit benefits. On behalf of the unit, the principal receives it, while the programme officer has to personally accept the award.”

The selection process for the award starts at the school level, moves up to the district level, then the state level, and finally to the national level. “First, there’s a programme signed by the school principal, followed by the programme officer, then it moves through various authorities, including the State Sports and Youth Affairs Department, and finally at the national level. The proposal is scrutinized by a six-member committee. To be selected, we had to prepare a proposal of 100 pages. If there is even one page extra, the proposal gets rejected during scrutiny,” he added.

Arjun has been involved with the NSS since 2012.

“In Sikkim, NSS started in 1988. I am the first person from Sikkim to receive this in the Programme Officer category; no other unit or officer has received it so far. In 2017, in the volunteer category, Naresh Chettri received the award from President Ram Nath Kovind. He was the first in the volunteer category, and I am the first in the programme officer category from Sikkim,” said Pradhan.

“The award is given for outstanding social work. Our unit, based in the school, consists of 100 NSS volunteers (50 from Class 11 and 50 from Class 12). Only Class 11 and 12 students are eligible to be NSS volunteers at the school level. Each unit has one programme officer who guides all activities, which are primarily social activities.

“Our motto is ‘Not Me, But You,’ meaning we act for society and others. The objective is personality development through community service. Similarly, leadership development is an aim of NSS. There are many welfare schemes of the Sikkim and Indian governments that we take to the people through the NSS as intermediaries because often the common people are unaware of such schemes. We reach these to people through NSS volunteers, programme officers, and units.

“We actively support the Sikkim government’s ‘Mero Rukh Mero Santati’ scheme and promote welfare programmes like the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Scheme, which provides Rs. 2–3 million in medical aid for the poor. We also raise awareness about national schemes such as PM-JAY, offering free treatment up to Rs. 500,000 at 500 hospitals across India. For instance, by informing people about the Jan Aushadhi Centre at New STNM Hospital, which offers medicines at 50–90% discounts, many have benefited. The NSS focuses on spreading such information for public welfare.”

Principal Donka expressed pride in receiving the Bharat National Social Scheme Awards 2022–2023. “This national recognition fills us with pride not only for Government Senior Secondary School but for the entire school community, especially for the NSS students. I give a major chunk of credit to our programme officer, Arjun Pradhan, who has worked tirelessly, as was rightly said. NSS work is done outside school hours so as not to disturb normal school activities. These achievements are solely due to his inspiration and motivation for the energetic NSS youth volunteers. He has tirelessly worked in many areas, such as organizing blood donation camps and health camps, and when those are held, most of us associate our school children with those events. It happens during holidays, when others are celebrating; these children join the programme officer, working selflessly for the community.”

“Hard work and education always pay off. I would also like to mention the NSS volunteers’ work in water harvesting, village adoption, and collaboration with the university. Many other things have been accomplished. Besides that, we have one NSS unit in our school, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has requested we set up another unit. The youth of today must come together, working selflessly for the community, as this type of work will move both the state and country forward,” she added.

Donka also congratulated MLA Kala Rai, the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, NSS volunteers, school staff, and everyone involved for their dedication, teamwork, and effort.