NSS Unit of Mahatma Night Degree College organized its seven days special residential camp at Mulgaon Village, Badlapur. This was the second year of our camp in this village. In the first year we had undertaken the work of School Walls Painting but this our we had undertaken a major project of Toilet Block Construction in the school premises. Further, it was understood with the pilot survey and last year’s Swatch Bharat Mission in the village that mere cleaning of the village is not sufficient but awareness has to be created among the villagers. In order to serve this purpose, we decided to install sign boards with the social slogans in the village.
The above objectives had major financial burden on the NSS unit which NSS funds were unable to support. Thus to support this, we started to take voluntary contributions from teachers and college students. It is only because of their support that we started the construction of Toilet block in the school from 15th of January, 3days prior to the camp commencement date. A special team of 15 NSS volunteers were made to just to toilet block construction purpose. In the school premises initially there were only 3 toilets block were there. 1 block for boys and 2 for girls were there. Our target was to build 2 more toilet blocks 1 for boys and 1 for girls. The toilet block construction team started visiting the camp site from 15th morning. They used to come to camp site early mornings as per the instruction of the skilled hired Mistry for the work and came back in the evening. It took 9 days of hard work and dedication to complete the toilet block construction work.
Day 1 18th January: We started at 9 a.m. with 94 NSS Volunteers and NSS Program Officers Asst. Prof. Harsh Shukla and Asst. Prof. Tushar Pawar from the college as our Principal Dr. Padma Rangan waved the flag for our departure. First instructions were given to the students about dos and don’ts in the campsite. We broke the coconut before our departure in front of the bus. Then we left for our camp site. It took 2 hours to reach the camp site. Students were instructed to bring the Tiffin for afternoon lunch. After reaching the campsite students were allotted their respective rooms. Some students were sent to bring kitchen utensils and other stuff for kitchen. In the meanwhile Kitchen grocery also came from the Patel R Mart, Badlapur. After the lunch, we divided the students into different six committees. Instructions were given about their committee work. Toilet construction team were engrossed in their work and activity committee member were asked to help them in addition. At 4 p.m. we called our resource person from village Shri Hanumant Bhoir sir and cook Eknath Bhandare along with school teachers and flag hoisting ceremony for the camp was done. University Head of NSS Prof. Baba Saheb Bhidve came for surprise visit in the campsite. He took half hour session and briefed the students about NSS work they have to do in the village. Day 1 was full of adjustment with the campsite and we spent time to understand the premises and work challenges. After dinner at 9 p.m., post dinner briefing was done and everybody slept at 10.30 p.m.
Day 2 19th January: Every one woke up at 5 a.m. in the morning. After the headcount and prayers, they were given 1 hour to fresh up. At 6.30 everyone gathered for morning exercise except kitchen committee. The task of kitchen committee was to make arrangement for the tea and breakfast. Boys were asked to go to village ground for running while girls did the warm up in the school premises. After warm up and exercise, tea and breakfast was served to the students. Subsequently, groups were made and they were sent to different places for Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan. In the meanwhile Kitchen committee was busy in their work. Toilet construction committees were busy in their work. Rest of the group did the shram daan and came back at 12 p.m. After the shram daan they went for bath and lunch was served at 1 p.m. After lunch afternoon session was taken by NSS PO Tushar Pawar. Then students were given time for their street play and entertainment preparation. At 5 p.m. tea was served. At 6 p.m. toilet committee completed their work for the day. All committees were busy in their work. 8 p.m. dinner was served. After dinner street play and entertainment committee showed their performance. At the end of the review meeting report writing committee gave the report for the 1st day.
Day 3 20th January: Every one woke up at 5 a.m. After prayers and freshen up program students went for warm up and exercise. After that tea and breakfast was served. After that students in different group went for swatch bharat abhiyan and they shouted the slogan of swatch bharat sundar bharat, swachhta he seva hai slogans. Toilet committee along with activity committee members helped in the toilet construction work. In the afternoon after shramdhan students went for bath which is followed by the lunch. 2 hours were given to the students for street play and entertainment preparation work. In the post Tea session one resource person Mr. Kohli came for andhashradhha nirmulan lecture. Our principal Dr. Padma Rangan also came for surprise visit in the evening. The session continued for 2 hours. The kitchen committee was busy in the dinner preparation and it was served at 8 p.m. Principal Dr. Padma Rangan was very happy by observing the hard work and passion of the students. Madam left at 8.30 p.m. after the dinner. Review meeting was kept at 9 p.m. After the review meeting street play and entertainment committee performed their plays. Report writing committee gave their report. 10.30 everyone slept.
Day 4 21st January: Usual routine remained as it is. Post breakfast student went for the shram dhaan and toilet committee started their work. In the afternoon resource person Reporter Rupesh Dubey came for session on social media. He tool the session for two hours. He explained the different avenues available for students in the media world. Dr. Lata Krishnan joined the camp on this day. After the session tea was served. Students prepared their sreet plays and acts. in the evening kabbadi match was played between first year and third year boys. In the post dinner session was done and everyone slept at 10.30 p.m.
Day 5: Day begin with 5 a.m. morning prayers followed by exercise and yoga. A friendly match of 4 over’s played in the village ground. In the post breakfast session students cleaned the school premises and Raw sign boards were brought from the villages. Group was formed to write swatchhta slogans on the sign boards. Accordingly colors were brought for the same. Toilet work went on as it is. In the morning we at 10.30 p.m. a group of students along with Tushar pawar sir Dr. Lata Krishnan visited near by candy factory and learned about rural entrepreurship. In the post lunch session, Volunteers from TISS came and took 2 hours session on gender equality. In the evening students along with Dr. Lata Krishnan and NSS PO Tushar Pawar sir went to Khanderaya Temple on the hill. All of them came back at 7 p.m. Subsequently street play and entertainment committee went for their preparation. Dinner was served at 8.30 p.m. post dinner session was held and everyone went for sleep at 11 p.m.
Day 6: In the morning everyone woke up at 5 a.m. In the post break fast session students went for shramdaan and toilet committee completed their work today. Post lunch session students were given little break for one hour and at 3.30 a group of students along with NSS PO Harsh Shukla and Dr. Lata Krishnan visited Ashtaang Yoga Ashram. We came back at 6 p.m. This year we kept a special session on astrophysics and resource person came at 6 p.m. Session started at 6.30 and went on for 1 hour. After the session resource person showed them moon and other stars with the help of telescope. Dinner was served at 9 p.m. After post dinner session we went for sleep at 10.30 p.m.
Day 7: We woke up at 5 a.m. After regular routine and breakfast we installed the sign board at pre decided places of the village. A group of student in the NSS dress code went to village along with Dr. Lata Krishnan. They distributed chocolates to the villagers and asked them to keep the village neat and clean. After the lunch valedictory function was started. Students were given prizes for their effective work. The villagers and the school staff was very much impressed by the hard work and dedication of the students for toilet construction. At 5 p.m. we bid adieu to everyone and left for chembur.