NSS in Tamil Nadu established Red Ribbon Clubs across 250 polytechnic colleges

The polytechnic colleges of Tamil Nadu have achieved a remarkable feat by recording the highest National Service Scheme enrollment among students in the country.

This is because of youth volunteers, especially the active participation of NSS Programme officers, with consistent encouragement given by the DOTE, according to officials.

About the National Service Scheme

NSS is a flagship programme of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, whereby students can involve themselves in community service or nation-building activities. The scheme was first introduced in polytechnic institutions of Tamil Nadu in 1983–84. In the beginning, when the scheme was launched, the number of colleges included was 10, with 1,000 student volunteers. Over the years, the programme has grown exponentially.

“Today, NSS units function in 335 polytechnic colleges with 45,500 registered volunteers, the highest among polytechnic institutions across India,” said a senior DOTE official.

In the period from 2000 to 2004, there was a sharp rise in participation in NSS, and enrollment rose to 20,765 students. "More than 45,000 students have joined in the last five years alone from 2019 to 2025, indicating a new interest among the youth to serve society." The official said,

He added, "NSS continues to act as a transformative platform to shape character and behaviour, molding students into socially responsible citizens."

NSS in Tamil Nadu has been instrumental in establishing Red Ribbon Clubs across 250 polytechnic colleges also for creating awareness about HIV/AIDS and other related health issues.

The state received many national awards over the years because it implemented the scheme in the most effective manner and integrated service with skills-based learning.

NSS volunteers in Tamil Nadu are involved with a broad spectrum of community-oriented programmes, starting from tree plantation drives, health education campaigns, disaster management workshops, road safety and first aid training, and women's self-employment initiatives to technical training for rural youth. "More than 90 per cent of these activities achieved their intended goals because of active participation and commitment from NSS volunteers," the official said. From instilling leadership qualities to fostering empathy and civic awareness, the polytechnic students of Tamil Nadu have continued to prove that service learning can go hand in hand with technical education: building not only skilled professionals but also compassionate citizens.