State HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said on Wednesday that National Service Scheme volunteers would be given priority like NCC candidates over normal students when it comes to jobs or admission into higher studies. He was addressing the NSS volunteers at the first State-level award function of NSS, post-bifurcation of the State, held at Ambedkar Hall in Andhra University here. “I shall see that a decision is taken on this issue shortly,” he said.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao, who himself served as NSS volunteer during his college days at AU, said a stint with NSS changes the outlook and personality of a person.
Earlier, congratulating the award winners, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju said that the volunteers had been rendering yeoman service during natural calamities and emergency situations, by serving the affected people.
Ramachandra Rao, State Liaison Officer, in his report said that NSS was formed on September 24, 1969, with about 40,000 students and today its strength has gone up to 32 lakhs across the country, thus making it the largest student organisation in the world. “In the 13 districts in A.P., we have about 2.4 lakh volunteers,” he said.
Award winnersThe best programme coordinator award was given to K. Sumanth Kumar of Acharya Nagarjuna University. The best programme officer awards were given to Prof. Bhagyalakshmi of St. Anns College, Visakhapatnam, Ch. Adinarayana of Andhra University, Ramesh Reddy of Vikram Simhapuri University, Nellore, Bharati of Sri Venkateswara Univesity, Tirupati, Sridevi of Padmavathi Mahila University, Tirupati and Venkat Ramana of Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur. Fifteen students from various universities in the State were given the best volunteer awards.
Andhra University Registrar U K. Rama Mohana Rao, Rector E.A. Narayana and NSS Programme Coordinator N.A.D Paul were present.
