Shirva/Manchakal: Under the theme “Not Me But You”, National Service Scheme (NSS) of St. Mary’s College, Shirva was inaugurated by Rev. Fr. StanyTauro (Correspondent, St. Mary’s Educational Institutions, Shirva) on Thursday, November 17. The week long NSS Camp which will be held from 17th to 23rd November was inaugurated at Jeevan Asha Home for the Aged situated close to St. Mary’s College, Shirva.
The event began with a prayer song by NSS students followed by a warm welcome by Hanumanth ((NSS Volunteer) to the guests of honour present on the occasion namely Fr. StanyTauro, Prof.Rajan (Principal, St. Mary’s College), Thomas Barboza (President, Jeevan Asha), Richard Barboza (Managing Trustee), Ajit D’Mello (NSS Officer), Namratha (Training Program Officer) and Ajit Suvarna (NSS Joint Secretary).
The inauguration was done by Fr. StanyTauro by lighting the traditional lamp accompanied with all the honorary guests on the dais.
In his presidential address, Fr. Tauro said that he asked Ajit D’Mello why the camp is being held nearby rather than a different village or place away from Shirva. But he said that the camp is being held at Jeevan Asha Home for the aged for two purposes. One, to get the surroundings cleaning and the second, to spend some time with the old people living over there. Fr. Tauro further said “It was a wise decision as it is important to spend some valuable time with the inmates as they have no family members or their children or grandchildren. They are here due to circumstances which we can’t explain. There are about 35 inmates here and they live like one family. Other inmates are their brothers and sisters. I am sure they will be very much missing their children and grandchildren. It is your duty to fill their place for the time being and spend as much as valuable time with them. My dear students, be their children or grandchildren for the time being. I am sure they will not leave you easily at the end of the camp here. You will definitely create a strong family bond with them and also you will learn when you go back how to give respect to your parents as well as old people in your respective houses”.
“There is nothing more painful than leaving children and staying in an old age home. I’m sure today tears will flow from their eyes when they see you all here remembering their little ones. You are their hope now and please spend as much time as possible with them and be a part of their family. There is no bigger blessing than that.”
He thanked Thomas Barboza and Richard Barboza for allowing the NSS camp to take place in their premises so that not only student engage in social service but also in spending their valuable time with the inmates there.
Speaking on the occasion Rajan said that usually the NSS camps are held outside the college. In the previous years, it was held in Manasa Pamboor village and then in Udupi Baliga Old Age Home. But this time it is kept here purposely to have a little valuable time with the old people here so that the students will share their pain and also gain a lot of experience of life from the inmates they are interacting with. He further said “It will definitely bring change in your life after spending a week here and you will know how to take care of your grandparents when you return. The training provided here will also make you good leaders in the future”.
NSS student Vikesh proposed the vote of thanks. The program was conducted efficiently by Swathi. The week long NSS camp shall be coordinated by Namratha (Training Program Officer), assisted by Sushma (Co-ordinator), Sandeep (Asst, Co-ordinator), Joint Secretary Jeena Saldhana, Joint Secretary Ajit Suvarna under the supervision of Ajit D’Mello (Officer NSS).
