ATTITUDE AND AWARENESS OF COLLEGE-GOING NSS VOLUNTEERS TOWARD PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME: A STUDY FROM THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT, KERALA

The study examines the attitude, awareness, and challenges of college-going NSS volunteers toward participation in the National Service Scheme (NSS) in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. The NSS, a flagship youth development program of India, promotes leadership, discipline, and civic responsibility through experiential community service. A descriptive institutional study was conducted among 100 NSS volunteers selected from three colleges using simple random sampling. Data were gathered through a pretested structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean and percentage, with inferential results (t-test and chisquare) referenced from the original dataset. Findings revealed that 79 per cent of the respondents strongly agreed that NSS is necessary in society and 73 per cent believed that it helps build self-confidence. About 22 per cent of volunteers had high knowledge of NSS activities, whereas 18 per cent demonstrated poor knowledge levels. Age and fathers' educational qualification significantly influenced awareness and opinion. While most volunteers received appropriate guidance and leadership support during camps, a few reported minor logistical challenges. The results highlight the importance of strengthening orientation, mentorship, and institutional support to enhance the participation and experiential learning outcomes of NSS volunteers in higher education institutions.