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GUIDELINES OF LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME

Introduction :

Training is necessary for individuals to develop skills and fine-tune their latent talents. NSS volunteers need leadership training so that they can be sensitized on various issues and develop leadership qualities.

Leadership cannot be created in vacuum. It has to be developed from stimulating situations. Leaders emerge from situations and change their styles to be successful in the changing environment. NSS volunteers are expected to take up various development projects in which their involvement in planning, implementation, evaluation and follow up has to be encouraged. This can be done by proper orientation and training of the NSS volunteers.

Need:

The need for organizing a capsule of Leadership Training for NSS volunteers emerges from hypothesis that NSS students have to be provided with basic information and skills to take up various NSS programmes. If the selected NSS volunteers are trained, they can in turn guide their peers and help their seers (Programme Officers). Therefore, the volunteers are to be sensitized on key issues like NSS, its objectives, philosophy, areas of work, skills in communication, programme planning, management and on theses like environment, health, citizenship, etc.

Programme Design:

A ten-day model-training module is developed so that a uniform pattern of training can be provided to the NSS volunteers in Andhra Pradesh.

Selection of Volunteers:

NSS volunteers who have completed successfully their one-year of service and attended a minimum of one special camping programme are to be selected for the leadership training. Preference should be given to the volunteers who took active interest in all the activities of NSS of their Units and exhibited initiative in taking up leadership responsibilities during the course of activity. A maximum number of 3-5 volunteers in each college/unit maybe selected for the training. The maximum number of volunteers in each training programme should not exceed 50 in case of districts up to 25 colleges, 75 in districts up to 25-40 colleges and 100 in districts with more than 40 colleges having NSS units. In no case, the total No. of participants should exceed 100.

Training Method:

The training programme should be conducted as a model special camp as well as a model-training course. It should include concepts of participatory management and training. As far as possible the volunteers should be encouraged to learn through their participation in individual and group exercises, which will provide opportunity for physical as well as intellectual development. A programme schedule indicating various day wise activities is prepared keeping this point in view.

Resource Persons:

Experts on various subjects who are locally situated can be invited to enlighten the volunteers, sensitize and motivate them. Eminent personalities/ important officials from the district administration like I.A.S. & I.P.S. Officers, Lead Bank Managers, Insurance officials, District Judges, Artists, etc., shall be invited as guests for the cultural evening and requested to address the volunteers to encourage them as well as witness the cultural programme.

Logistics:

Arrangements for the training programme should commence with identification of a suitable venue, which consists facilities for accommodation, water, electricity for the stay of the campers and also for conducting training sessions. A project work involving some shramdan activity nearer to the venue may also be thought of.

An organizing committee consisting of Pos, of the district and a few selected volunteers of NSS may be formed to look after the arrangements on accommodation, board, programme, transport, resource persons, cultural activities, project work etc.

Finances:

The expenditure on organizing the NSS volunteers Leadership Training Programme should be on the lines of a ten day Special Camp i.e. @ Rs.30/- per volunteer per day. This should cover the entire expenditure on the programme including incidentals. This will be met out from the administrative expenses available at University Level or the unspent balance in special camp with prior approval of University Advisory Committee Meeting. However, the expenditure incurred on travel of the NSS volunteers from their respective colleges to the venue and back may be met out of Regular NSS funds.

Training CampOrganization:

The NSS volunteer Leadership Training Programme has to be organized like a model special camp as training programme with active participation of the volunteers themselves. Simple, hygienic and nutritious food should be prepared and served to the volunteers. Volunteers should be engaged in preparation and serving of food. They should also be engaged in some shramdan project in and around the vicinity of the camp place. Volunteers should be encouraged to debate, express their

Views and prepare project plans and in execution of the project. They are not being seen only as implementers as tools for taking up the projects or beneficiaries.

A system of cooperative living and corporate action shall be encouraged by enabling volunteers to organize themselves at various activities. For instance, they can be advised to keep their place of stay clean with a camp lay out and at the time of taking food they can be served while sitting together. The informal interactions, which take place during this period, will help them to understand each other better. Volunteers on various committees should be encouraged to take active part in the functioning of the committees. The training programme should create on enjoyable and learning experience to the campers rather than becoming a routine exercise of physical labour and boring lecturers.

Reporting of Volunteers:

The volunteers should report on the previous day evening of the commencement of the camp and depart on the evening of closing the camp so that they can participate fully in all the activities for ten days. The volunteers should be asked to bring with them, essential items like, personal clothing, bedding, plates, mugs, torch, white shirt/trousers, P.T. shoes, etc.

A quiz, elocution/debating competition may be held on the last day of the training programme, based on the inputs given during the ten days.

Committees:

The following committees shall be formed for better training and camp management:

  1. Reception/Accommodation Committee: Look after reception of volunteers, receiving of guests, providing refreshments to the guests, seeing off guests, accommodation to the volunteers, guests, etc.
  2. Programme Committee: Organise various programmes/projects, etc.
  1. Cultural Committee: Organising cultural programmes, stages management, auditorium, mike light, seating arrangement etc.
  2. Food Committee: Arrangements for preparation of food, serving food, etc.
  3. Publicity & Reporting Committee: Publicity through press, T.V., AIR channels, putting up of camp news letter, documenting events, bringing out a report & writing of camp diary on every day.

One programme officer will be in charge of a committee and all the volunteers shall serve on the committee as members on rotation basis. For example, the group of volunteers who are in Reception/Accommodation Committee on the first day shall be in the Programme Committee on the second day, Cultural Committee on the third day and so on.

Conclusion:

The NSS volunteers Leadership Training Programme should act as a model for organizing NSS activities in the colleges/universities. The students training should be in a position to take lead role in their respective areas and assist the Programme Officer / Programme Coordinator in the activities.

MODEL PROGRAMME

Days / TimingsProgramme

06.00 to 07.00 a.m.Yoga & PT

07.00 to 08.00 a.m.Break Fast

08.00 to 11.00 a.m.Shramdan (Physical work)

11.00 to 01.00 p.m.Morning Session (*)

01.00 to 02.00 p.m.Lunch Break and Rest

02.00 to 04.00 p.m.Afternoon Session (**)

04.00 to 04.30 p.m.Break for Tea

04.30 to 05.00 p.m.Recreation/Games & Evening Assembly

05.00 to 06.00 p.m.Evening Session (***) Group discussion

06.00 to 07.30 p.m.Cultural Programmes

07.30 to 08.30 p.m.Dinner

08.30 to 09.30 p.m.Day’s Evaluation

10.00 p.m.Lights off

Suggested topics to be covered during the 10 days in the intellectual sessions & group discussions.

1)Environment enrichment

2)HIV/AIDS prevention

3)Leadership development

4)Communication skills

5)Entrepreneurship development

6)Blood donation

7)Gender sensitization

8)Healthy life style

9)Preservation of Culture & heritage

10)Social development issues & approaches

11)Building groups & group work working with communities.