Driven by 5 transformative ideas, RSS to focus on expansion in 2025
Updated: January 1, 2025 11:15
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would turn 100 in 2025. And it is all set to expand its organisational network further. The RSS was established by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar Vijaydashami . The first RSS shakha was started at Nagpur with a group of youngsters.
Over the last 99 years, the RSS has expanded its reach massively. The official statistics shared at a high-level meeting of its senior functionaries in October 2024 gives one a glimpse of how it has reached every nook and corner of the country.
At present 72,354 shakhas are being held in 45,411 places. About 3626 new places with 6645 new shakhas have been added in the last one year as part of expansion drive ahead of the centenary year.
There are 29369 places where weekly shakhas(once in a week the RSS volunteers meet for an hour) Similarly, number of places where ‘once in a week’ (weekly once shakhas) meetings were held totalled to. In 2024, the places where weekly shakhas are held increased by 3147.
There are still certain parts of the country where the RSS feels that it needs to reach out more effectively. In places where daily shakhas haven’t reached , monthly get togethers are held to prepare the ground for launching of daily shakhas. Currently, such monthly meetings are held at 11,382 places. During 2024, 750 new places have been added to the list of places where such monthly meetings are held. In the RSS parleys, these monthly meeting groups are called ‘Sangh mandali’.
Overall, the RSS has expanded in 2024 to reach 1,13,105 places directly. If we add to this the might of around three dozen RSS inspired organisations, the massive outreach of the RSS volunteers is becoming increasingly incomparable
RSS Responds to Natural Disasters Across India
Throughout the year, Sangh Swayamsevaks (volunteers) have been at the forefront of disaster relief efforts across India.
- West Bengal: During the Tarakeswari river flooding, volunteers provided essential services to over 25,000 individuals at relief camps.
- Odisha: In response to severe flooding, 4,000 people received critical healthcare, food, and water assistance.
- Kerala: Following devastating landslides in Wayanad, 1,000 volunteers were mobilized to aid in relief and recovery operations.
- Gujarat: Significant flood relief efforts were conducted in the regions of Vadodara, Jamnagar, and Dwarka.
Furthermore, Sangh Swayamsevaks played a crucial role in providing dignified last rites to over 600 individuals who lost their lives in various disasters. These efforts extended beyond religious boundaries, with last rites conducted according to the customs and traditions of each individual, regardless of their faith.
The centennial year for the RSS will culminate on Vijaydashami in 2025. That is when the RSS will start its celebrations. For the first 10 months of the year 2025, RSS volunteers will make preparations for these celebrations.
As a part of this preparation, the RSS is focusing on two key areas. First, the organisational aspect. There is a concerted effort to get more full-time workers and the target is to have the presence of the RSS in every village, town and city of the country. For the RSS, the celebrations don’t mean organising glamorous events and glittery get-togethers. The RSS celebrates by taking up bigger targets for expanding its organisation and strengthening its existing network. This is how it had celebrated centenaries of some of its earlier Sarsanghchalaks(chief mentors). Another target of the RSS for year 2025 is to have greater focus on the youth with an aim to connect them not only with their cultural roots but also engage them in serving the society, especially the marginalised and vulnerable sections.
The second area where the RSS is going to give a new thrust is social transformation. The ideological framework for this task was finalised in 2024 and it is being called the “Panch Parivartan” initiative – a set of five transformative ideas. The RSS volunteers will engage with the common people by taking these ideas to them and putting them in action. The key focus areas in these five ideas are:
- Individual Growth: Promoting lifestyles centered on “swa” (self-reliance and self-awareness).
- Social Harmony: Fostering harmonious relationships within society.
- Family Values: Emphasizing the importance of strong family bonds and traditional values.
- Environmental Stewardship: Advocating for environmental conservation and preservation.
- Civic Responsibility: Promoting a strong sense of civic duty and active participation in society.
Conclusion
While the political commentators and politicians remained busy in deciphering the RSS’ relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party and its electoral impact, the RSS remained busy with its organisational expansion giving the least thought to electoral politics. The story would remain unchanged in 2025 as it has during the last 99 years. And this is the real strength of the RSS.
(The article was first published on www.moneycontrol.com. link: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/opinion/rss-prepares-for-centenary-year-with-organisational-growth-and-outreach-12900667.html )
