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Rediff.com  » News » Who says RSS is a dying institution?

Who says RSS is a dying institution?

By A Correspondent in New Delhi
July 25, 2009 01:13 IST
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According to a survey done by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, various branches of the RSS are growing all over the country.

Rashtriya Seva Bharati compiles and publishes a report of Seva karya growth after every 5 years. The report is called 'Seva Disha'. Started in 1995 with the cooperation of Seva Vardhini of Pune, this report has previously been published in 1997 and 2004.

According to the press release of RSS, along with Rashtriya Seva Bharati, the social service projects and institutions inspired by the organisations Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Rashtra Sevika Samiti, Vidya Bharati, Deen dayal Shodh Sansthan, and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad are also growing.

Seva Disha 2009, which was published on the occasion of All Bharat 'Prant Pracharak Baithak' (annual meeting of state organizers) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, highlights some remarkable features of the growth of social service projects.

The service activities all over the nation including the remote parts of Bharat, have grown by more than 1 lakh as compared to 2004.The focus of their activity has been on weaker society, claims survey.

The 'Arogya Rakshak' (village health volunteer) scheme being run in remote villages of various states, the 'Bal Gokulam' of Kerala, the 'Char Sutri Dhan' scheme of Maharashtra, the self help groups of Tamil Nadu, projects for 'street children' in Delhi and other metros, the 'education for child labour' project in Andhra, are but few sample examples of the all encompassing initiative of Swayamsevaks working in social service field. 

This year, 10,479 Swayamsevaks from 6,982 places participated as trainees in the 'Pratham Varsha' (first year) Sangh Shiksha Varg, which is a part of a three year course.

2,581 Swayamsevaks participated in the 'Dwitiya Varsha' (second year training), while 973 Swayamsevaks completed the 'Trutiya Varsha' (third year) training. Every year, the Swayamsevaks who have completed the initial training of the Sangh called 'Prathamik Shiksha Varg', are eligible to participate in these 20 days residential course.

The survey, if correct, counters some Bhartiya Janta Party leader's recent allegation that their parent organisation's growth has been stunted since last few years.

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A Correspondent in New Delhi