Participation of students in the National Service Scheme (NSS) activities can help them develop qualities which are necessary for their professional life, Mr. Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary to the state government in the department of Higher Education, said on Sunday.

Referring to the Mahabharat while putting across his views, Mr. Sethi said virtues like charity and compassion were inherent to the Indian culture which the students should cultivate.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the NSS state-level cultural festival held at the SOA Deemed to be University here. Around 200 NSS Programme Officers and volunteers representing 19 universities of Odisha and the Council for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) attended the event.

Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, SOA, said adjusting to diverse circumstances could be the key to leading a happy life while highlighting the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

The programme was also addressed by Mr. Ramesh Chandra Behera, State NSS Officer and Deputy Secretary in the department of Higher Education, Ms. Sarita Patel, Regional Director, NSS, Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, Director, University Outreach Programme and NSS Programme Coordinator at SOA, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Prof. Kamal Lochan Mahanta, Programme Officer, NSS.

Mr. Behera stressed the need for young people to take interest in the country’s cultural heterogeneity while Ms. Patel said students should understand the diversified Indian culture as it was the only means to keep the people united.

Prof. Sharma spoke about the large number of volunteers involved in NSS activities and how their efforts were geared towards achieving a Tobacco Free environment. Prof. Das outlined the activities being undertaken by NSS for the benefit of the society.