User:Deepakbalakrishnan/sandbox

The Nair Service Society or the N.S.S. is a three-tier organization with Karayogams at the base level, Taluk Unions at the intermediate level and a Central Headquarter operating from Perunna in the Kottayam District of Kerala.[1] One among such numerous Karayogams is the N.S.S. Karayogam, Ponnurunni located near Thammanam in the Ernakulam District of Kerala.

N.S.S. Karayogam, Ponnurunni N.S.S. Karayogam, Ponnurunni (hereinafter referred to as Karayogam, Unit, Organization) is an organization registered vide No: 3371 under its Head Office of The Nair Service Society, Perunna. It was formed on the 7th of November 1976 in the District of Ernakulam and got registered three days later on the 10th. The Karayogam serves a wide area with its boundaries ranging between Ponnurunni, Chalikkavattom, Karanakodam and Thammanam (hereinafter referred to as the Serviceable Area). As of 2017, the Organization has crossed memberships of over 450 families within the region.

Administration and Governance The Governing Body of the Karayogam consists of 15 (Fifteen) Members; comprising of 5 (Five) Executive Committee Members and 10 (Ten) ordinary committee members. Executive Committee of Karayogam consists of The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer. While the Executive Committee Members guide and advice the ordinary committee members; the activities of the Unit is usually carried on by the latter. The Governing Body assumes its authority and reports to the General Body (hereinafter referred to as the Pothuyogam) for all its cruicial decisions, funding, amendments, disciplinary proceedings, various Approvals including but not limited to Annual Financial Statements and Budgeting, Elections etc.; other than for its day-to-day activities.

For easy administration of the Unit, the Servicable Area is divided into 15 segments and each member of the Governing Body is entrusted with the responsibility of servicing its Members residing in their allotted locality. However, the Committee members in totality are responsible for overall upkeep of all members of the Unit.

Like any other Registered Organization, Complete Accounts relating to the financial year of the Unit is Audited (both internally and by an External Auditor); published and laid down before the Pothuyogam for Approval.

Parent Organization N.S.S. Karayogam, Ponnurunni is registered as a Service Organzation under the Nair Service Society, Perunna, which was founded by Late Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan on the 31st of October 1914.

At a particular period in history, the Nair community was facing a crisis brought about by disunity and blind adherence to outmoded customs, beliefs and practices. The once economically and socially dominant community was declining from its glorious past due to their fondness for celebrations and inclination for continuous ceremonial occasions fuelled by a strong affinity towards extravaganza and easy laid-back life. Gradual loss of land holdings, underemployment and unemployment due to lack of modern education further worsened the situation. [4]

It was at this point Shri. Mannathu Padmanabhan with thirteen of his friends and his mother Mannathu Parvathy Amma came forward with the concept of forming NAIR BHRITHYA JANA SANGHAM (hereinafter referred to as the Sangham), of which Shri K.Kelappan Nair was the first President and Shri. Mannath Padmanabha Pillai its Secretary. The Sangham later got renamed as the Nair Service Society.[2] Shri. Padmanabhan served the Nair Service Society as its Secretary for Thirty-one years and as its President for Three years. [3]

The initiative was to unite and re-strengthen the Nair community, build up a great organization to reform them and remove the ignorance accumulated over centuries reinforced by inadequate education. He inspired them and put forward a dream of liberation from poverty, misery and ignorance. In his own unique way, with persistence, tireless efforts, vision and farsightedness, the N.S.S opened an array of educational institutions, hospitals and other socially beneficial institutions all over the state.

Though initially started to reorganize, strengthen and empower the Nair community the N.S.S, now extends the benefits of its service beyond communal and religious boundaries and plays significant roles in the social, economic, educational and political transformations of the state of Kerala. The N.S.S concentrates its activities in the fields of education, primary health, agriculture and various charitable services providing financial aid and support to the poor for housing, healthcare, marriage, education etc. All these activities are made available to the needy through the Karayogams and the women and child factions established under them.[4]

It now has a network of over 5300 units at the village (Karayogams) and taluk levels (Taluk Unions); and runs over a Hundred Schools, Fifteen Arts and Science Colleges, Three Training Colleges, One Engineering College, One Homeo Medical College and several Nursing Colleges, Polytechnic College, T.T.C Schools, Working Women Hostels and Technical institutions.[4]

About the Founder - Shri. Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai (02 January 1878 – 25 February 1970) was a social reformer and a freedom fighter from the State of Kerala, India. He was born in Perunna village in Changanacherry, Travancore, British India on 2 January 1878 to Eswaran Namboothiri of Nilavana Illam and Mannathu Parvathy Amma. [3]

He began his career as a teacher in 1893 in a Government primary school. After a few years, from 1905 he started practicing law, in the Magistrates Courts.[3]

He first initiative for bringing in social equality was the active participation in Vaikom Satyagraha, demanding the public roads near the temple at Vaikom be opened to low caste Hindus. He later played a key role in the Vaikom and Guruvayoor temple-entry Satyagrahas convened by Mahatma Gandhi in 1924; and the following anti-untouchability agitation. He allowed entry to everyone in his family temple irrespective of any caste distinction. In 1947, he joined the Indian National Congress and took part in the agitation against Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer’s administration in Travancore. As the first president of Travancore Devaswom Board, he revitalised many temples which had almost ceased to function. [3]

In 1949 Padmanabhan became a member of the Travancore Legislative Assembly. In 1959 he along with Christian Churches led a united opposition against the State Ministry, which became known as the Vimochana Samaram (liberation struggle), thereby leading to the dismissal of the Communist government under E. M. S. Namboodiripad on 31 July 1959.

He was honoured with the title Bharata Kesari by the President of India; and in 1966 with Padma Bhushan. He passed away on 25 February 1970 at the age of 92. [3]

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nair_Service_Society http://www.nssnorthtexas.org/NSS.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannathu_Padmanabha_Pillai http://www.nss.org.in/about.html