By Frida Toppo
Noney, Sept 25, 2021: A Christian girl studying at the Salesian college in Manipur, northeastern India, was honored an outstanding student leader for National Service Scheme (NSS).
President Ram Nath Kovind on September 24 conferred the NSS awards for 2019-2020 through virtual mode from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Pretty Inkoh from Nungtek village in the Noney district of Manipur, one of the recipients, is pursuing Bachelor’s degree in Arts at Don Bosco College Maram.
The 20-year-old woman was among 42 people who received the awards, given in three different categories such as University and Plus Two, NSS units and their program officers and NSS volunteers.
The federal government appreciated and congratulated them for their commitment.
As part of the award, Inkoh received a certificate, a medal, and 10,000 rupees.
The NSS was inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and was launched in 1969, the centenary year of the Father of Nation’s birthday. The scheme aims to develop the personality and character of young students through voluntary community service. It currently has 4 million volunteers spread throughout India.
Volunteers work on issues of social relevance which keep involving in response to the needs of a community through regular social camp activities.
The issues include such as literacy and education, health, family welfare, nutrition, environment conservation, social service, empowerment of women, programs conducted with economic development activities, rescue and relief during calamities.
Inkoh says her ambition is to become a good citizen through education.
The joy and happiness in rendering community service without remuneration influenced her to join NSS as its leader and also commander for NSS band troop of the same college for the tenure of 2017- 2019.
Following the NSS motto “Not me but you.” she gave her best in helping in the village and community guided by her NSS program officer Sister William Parmar of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna Sisters.
Inkoh was able to involve in the local community in keeping the surroundings clean. She along with the team carried out door to door awareness program on a plastic-free environment and wall painting as a part of “Swachh Bharat Mission” or Clean India Mission. It is the federal government’s initiative to end open defecation and improve solid waste management.
As an active volunteer, she has conducted literacy programs and planted 1950 saplings in the village. She has donated blood twice.
“Inkoh is a born leader,” says A John Britto of the Department of Mathematics.
According to Sister Parmar, “She has good communication and leadership skills and embraced all the opportunities to learn and serve others. She is a brave and committed person.”