SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), continues to make headlines for producing socially conscious youth as Mohd Firdoos, a dedicated NSS (National Service Scheme) volunteer from the Faculty of Horticulture, has been conferred the MY Bharat National Service Scheme Award for the year 2022–23. This prestigious national honour was conferred upon Mr. Firdous by President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu during the Bharat National Service Scheme Awards 2022–23 function held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 6, 2025.
This prestigious national award recognizes Mr. Firdoos’s outstanding commitment to community service, social upliftment, and public welfare. His efforts span a wide range of grassroots-level initiatives. He has participated in multiple blood donation camps, including making personal donations, showcasing his deep commitment to humanitarian causes. As part of his environmental mission, he has planted over 2,450 saplings, contributing to ecological sustainability, and took part in 14 health camps, extending medical assistance to undeserved rural populations.
Mr. Firdoos’s achievement comes under the visionary leadership of Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, who continues to foster a strong culture of social responsibility and youth engagement at the university. The award-winning contributions of Mr. Firdoos were further shaped under the guidance of Prof. S.A.Gangoo, NSS Programme Coordinator, and the supervision of Dr. Seemi Lohani, Programme Officer NSS, Faculty of Horticulture, Shalimar Campus.
In addition to health and environmental initiatives, Mr. Firdoos has significantly contributed to educational empowerment by offering free coaching and distributing stationery to rural children, thereby improving access to education in remote communities. His involvement in multiple awareness campaigns—including Digital Literacy, Gender Sensitization, Plastic-Free India, and government schemes like PM Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Jeevan Bima Yojana, and promoting a Cashless India—reflects a deep and sustained commitment to public awareness and national development.
The recognition not only brings honour to the university but also reinforces SKUAST-K’s mission of nurturing future leaders who are driven by compassion and social responsibility. Mr. Mohd Firdoos’s journey serves as a powerful example of how the youth, when properly mentored and supported, can make meaningful contributions to society.