His zeal for social work bagged Jharkhand its lone Indira Gandhi NSS Award this year.

Rinku Kumar, 22, an alumnus of Sakchi's Karim City College has made Jamshedpur and the state proud by winning the coveted award given by the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs.

The award will be received by 30 NSS volunteers from across the country who have displayed exemplary contribution in the field of social work in 2016-17.

Rinku, along with the other 29 recipients, will receive a medal, a certificate and Rs 50,000 from President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi at a date to be announced later.

'I received the confirmation mail last (Monday) night. The award is a great motivation. I want to dedicate my life towards social work to help improve others' lives,' Rinku, who hails from Mango, said.

Rinku who has completed his B.Sc (IT) wants to pursue his post graduation in social work.

He has been actively involved in organising blood donation campaigns, tree plantation, Swachh Bharat campaigns at the college level and received the best volunteer award from his alma mater last year.

He is currently involved in projects with social outfits that work on environment conservation.

But, he adds quickly, 'I never thought I'd be selected for this award. I love social work because it makes me happy.'

A student has to undergo three rounds of screening at the level of university, state department of sports and its central counterpart to get the award.

'Selection parameters include volunteering, personality, involvement in social work, mainly blood donation camps, and environment conservation,' NSS regional director (Bihar & Jharkhand) Dipak Kumar said. Small wonder, Rinku was the best fit.

Rinku feels environment conservation is his calling.

'Environment conservation is my core area and I would like to build a career out of it. I have found my purpose in life. The award just makes it stronger,' the youth said.