The basic aim of National Service Scheme is to imbibe the virtues of Social Service, helping nature, co-operation, sharing resources and to inculcate amongst the youth the awareness about the society in general and the need of the downtrodden people, villagers and the so called unfortunate strata of the society in particular.

Being a programme officer I feel that the 82 volunteers this year have completed their work as per the above mentioned criteria. They did everything in 20 hours of University Programmes, 20 hours of College Programmes, 80 hours of areas based activities and in the 10 days residential camp at Pimpaldari Tah. Mahad & District Raigad

The Unique project in co-operation with Corporation Bank was of "Financial Literacy" where in 450 students opened a "Zero Balance Account" in the bank from 19th July to 14th Aug 07 and the N.S.S. unit could donate Rs. 4500 to the "Helpage India Society" (A society for Senior Citizens) as per the scheme of the project. Being the 60th Year of Independence the volunteers participated in "Nirdhar Darshan" "Trivar Vandan" programmes, Peace March on 5th August and 30th Jan 08, Disha Project in DTSS college on AIDS, felicitation of T-20 Cricket Team, Gandhi Jayanti programme on the International Non-Violence day on 2nd October 2007.

Ashish Kumar Jain of FYBCom attended the leadership training camp for 5 days.

The blood donation and free thalasemia testing camp was held with an NGO "Think" and St. George Hospital on 26th Nov 07 where 52 boys & 42 girls donated total 94 bottles of blood. 5 stdents tested positive for Thalasemia whose counseling was also done on 14th January 08 by Mr Vijay Shetty of NGO "Think".

Under the leadership of Swapnil Pawar (Sybcom C) and Rohan Gosalia (SyBA) 40 volunteers worked for 80 hours each for Awareness Programme of Blood Donation at Andheri Rail way station in Diwali and Christmas vacation. They will receive the certificates from the blood donation unit of Govt. of Maharashtra & Railway Ministry.

As usual volunteers donated Rs. 2000 to the "Hitech International Foundation" by selling 1000 flags made by handicapped children on Independence Day under Mr. Devnani's guidance. A unique silent rally on Global Warming was held on 15th August from Raheja College to Juhu Beach where 1200 Degree college students participated. The banners were made with different slogans and a skit was performed under the guidance of Mrs. S. P. Shinde on the issues of "Protecting the Earth" on the Beach.

Nearly 30 volunteers participated at the 10 Day's Residential camp held at Pimpaldari in Mahad Tah in Raigad Dist. From 2nd Dec. to 11th Dec. 07 which was a great success. 2007 being a "Water Year" the volunteers constructed a temporary Dam on the river 'Kaal" and they participated in environment enrichment programme like cleaning the streets of the village, Aids awareness, socio-economic survey of the village, celebration of 51st Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, visiting the Buddhavadi, field trips to shivtharghal, Mahad Chavadar Tale & Raigad fort. They used to cook food daily by bringing water from the river. Neha Gohil (SyBCom C) started the lectures of 'Art of living' for the poor villagers. By seeing the poor condition of the parents, the volunteers wanted to do something for
the continuation of the education of their wards.

So they collected a donation of Rs. 13,186 from the college students, the staff and supporting staff of the college. The same amount was handed over to the principal of the school Mrs. S. S. Khaire in a graceful function held on 07.02.2008 by the Principal Dr. M. B. Madlani under the govt. scheme known as 'Kranti Jyoti Savitribai Phule Adoption Scheme.

The money donated would be utilized for the uniform, books, notebooks and stationery items of the total 55 students of class 1st to 4th in the school at Pimpaldari.

In another gesture the N.S.S. unit tried to organize the exhibition of books on Ghandhiji by Sarvodaya Mandal of Mumbai (free of cost) in the college book exhibition "Dnyanyatra" on 7th & 8th Dec 2007.

The unit received the third prize and a trophy in a Dance Competition based on Patriotic songs in the Social Awareness Programme "Janeev" organized by Sathe College on 1st Jan 08. The participants were Devika Gadhiya, Mittal Unadkat, Radhika Dawda and Rohan Gogalia. On 16th Jan. 08, 230 certificates were presented to all the participants in various programmes on the Prize Distribution Day. Similarly cash prizes were given to 5 students who were adjudged best in different categories in the camp.
They were

Ashish Jain - Best upcoming leader

Neha Gohil - Best Social worker

Yunus Nadaf & Sachin Hasam - Best Photographers

Manali Mumgekar - Best Actor

Vivek Narisian - Best in Personality Development

Swapnil Pawar and Harshada Rane were selected as Best Student Leaders male & female respectively and they were given trophies as well as cash prizes.

Next year will be more eventful year for N.S.S.