Vivekananda once said: “When we are helping a person in need, we must not look down upon him, but we must be grateful to him, as he allowed us to reach God by helping him.”

Man is a social animal. He cannot live alone. So, it is the fellow-feeling that reminds him of his duty to see whether everyone in the society lives happily.

Thus, the services provided for the welfare of the society is called social service. By social service people help the persons who are in need, who are deprived, disabled, ignorant, exploited or illiterate.

Social service brings out the philanthropic nature of men. Some thinks that it is a foolish act to do something for others where one is not entitled to gains. But the word social service is a homonym for self-sacrifice for the well-being of his fellow men.

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India has come across several personalities who have become the icons of helpfulness. How can one ignore the contributions of the legends like Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita or Mother Teresa who taught us the true meaning of social service. We can cite examples of Emperors like Harshavardhana and Ashoka the Great who had done a lot of social service for the well-being of the state and their subjects.

India is a country where poverty exists even after 60 long years since she has acquired independence. Still she has not achieved the hundred per cent literacy level. Thus social service is much needed for the poor, neglected, deprived, exploited, illiterate sections of the country. Again, to increase production in agriculture, social workers must train the farmers the scientific and modern techniques of cultivation by which they can increase agricultural production.

Social service also aims at the prevention and eradication of various diseases like AIDS, cancer, polio, leprosy and Malaria. Literacy campaigns, awareness and rehabilitation of persons addicted to narcotic drugs, social upliftment and welfare of the sex workers, social as well -IS educational counseling, imparting women’s rights-all come under the purview of social service.

An obvious question that comes up to the surface is who are the social workers? Generally, the Non-Governmental Organisations come up to play a major role of social service or activities. Besides, some big business houses at times extend by their helping hand, providing with funds. Social service does not entail one to bear the expenses all by himself. Government as well as the common mass donates for the welfare funds setup by various NGOs. Again, charity shows maybe organised to accumulate fund.

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The problem of limited funding maybe solved in a number of ways. The only thing needed is the will to serve for others. This very noble thought will help remove the hindrances on the way. But, at the same time, it must also be kept in mind that the fund must be properly utilised for the benefit of the society and should not be a subsidy to one’s personal wealth!