By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has said that the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodya was not a political issue and all should come forward for it.
The RSS’ work is continuously expanding across the nation due to hard work of its swayamsevaks and conducive atmosphere in the society. Especially a large number of students and the youth are getting associated with the Sangh. This was said by Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Sah Sarkaryavah of the RSS in a press conference after the three day meet of Akhil Bharatiya Karyakary Mandal started at the local ‘Shiksha and Anusandhan’ University here.
In reply to a question, Dr Vaidya said that the construction of Ram Temple is not a political issue. This is an issue of a nation’s faith. Replying to a question on the revoking of Article 370, he said this was a temporary provision in our Constitution. Replying to another question, he said that the people with nationalist thought are getting killed in the state of West Bengal and this is very unfortunate.
Dr Vaidya said the RSS believes no government can do everything for the society but it is the
Society which has to take the lead and that is why the RSS’ swayamsevaks are actively working to reform society. The outcome of rural development programmes started in 1998 by theswayamsevaks is visible today.
The RSS’ swayamsevaks are working to remove caste based discrimination and bring harmony by creating awareness among all sections of the society under its ‘Samajik Samrasta’ initiatives.
They are also working to conserve, protect and promote domestic Bharatiya cow breeds. Due to prevalence of nuclear families now, the family values are getting eroded. To restore them Sangh’s swayamsevaks are working in the field of ‘Kutumb Prabodhan’. For environment conservation the RSS’ swayamsevaks have taken up three key initiatives(3Ps): Planting trees, Promoting use of less water, Promoting ‘No Plastic’ usage.
Dr Vaidya said that at present RSS has 57,411 daily Shakhas and 18923 ‘weekly meetings(Saptahik Milan)’ . In 2009 the programme to expand the RSS was taken up. Following
that the RSS’ Shakhas have been on rise since 2010. The RSS’ Shakhas have increased by 19,584 since 2010. From 2010 to 2014, around 6000 Shakhas were added. He said that at present the RSS swayamsevaks are working in around 6000 Blocks of the nation which are around 90 per cent of the total blocks.
Dr Vaidya said that 60 per cent of those attending Shakhas are students or the youth. Around 29
per cent swayamsevaks belong to the age group of 20-40 years and the older people above 40
years of age constitute 11 per cent of the swayamsevaks attending Shakhas.
In 2013, the RSS had launched an online initiative ‘Join RSS’ which has received very positiveResponse. Along with others, the youth and the students have shown great interest in joining the RSS. In 2013 itself, the 88,843 people approached through ‘Join RSS’. From 2014 to 2016, around 90,000 to 95000 people approached through this initiative to join the RSS annually. In 2017, around 1.25 lakh people approached through ‘Join RSS’, in 2018, thus number reached around 1.5 lakh and in 2019, around 1.3 lakh people have approached till September.
There has been an emphasis on the ‘training’ of the swayamsevaks too. In this context, a numberof ‘Karyakarta Vikas Varga(Worker development camp)’ are being organized. In this meeting,there would be discussion on the ways and means to improve the training and do more value
addition. Dr Vaidya said that the functionaries at ‘Pranta’ level are participating in this meeting of Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal. Around 350 delegates are attending this three-day-long meeting. Arun Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh and Narendra Thakur, Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh were also present in the Press Conference
