By: RSSFACTS Web Desk

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) is known for its relief work during the period of natural disasters as well as other crisis. This is a compilation of some select media reports that give a glimpse of what RSS did during Covid Pandemic in India.

RSS joins govt initiative on Covid-19, launches awareness drives
It was the time when eighty-two districts in 17 states of the country were under lockdown following the outbreak of Covid-19 with flu-like symptoms. India had reported close to 400 cases and eight deaths. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) joined the government efforts to spread awareness about checking the spread of coronavirus disease Covid-19. RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi asked the Sangh volunteers to carry out awareness drives about health and cleanliness and make arrangement to provide food to those in need.
According to a senior functionary of the Sangh their immediate concern was the large section of people who earn daily wages and their income has been affected; these people will find it hard to make ends meet.
The article was first published on March 23, 2020, in The Hindustan Times
For details click on: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news

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Corona virus pandemic | Sangh Parivar distributes food, awareness drive amid lockdown
The 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break the human-to-human transmission chain of the Novel Corona virus has severely hit people employed in the unorganised sector who earned daily wages.
Several members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other Hindu nationalist organizations helped affected people overcome this crisis. Apart from distributing food packets to the poor, the Swayamsevaks also arranged hand washing facilities, reported Times Now.
The article was published on March 27,2020 in www.moneycontrol.com.
For details click on : https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/coronavirus-pandemic-sangh-parivar-distributes-food-holds-awareness-drive-amid-lockdown-5081161.html
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COVID-19: RSS distributes food to needy in Delhi.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 21-day lockdown to deal with the spread of the corona virus, saying that “social distancing” is the only option to deal with the disease which spreads rapidly, The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members along with resident welfare association distributed food items to the needy in Mahavir Enclave area near Dwarka sector one, amid this countrywide lockdown.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat hail the decision of a nationwide lockdown Prime Minister Narendra Modi to curb the spread of COVID-19 and urged people to follow the rules of the lockdown.
The article was first published on March 28,2020 in ANI
For details click on : https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/covid-19-rss-distributes-food-to-needy-in-delhi20200328222322/

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Sangh workers distributing 1.3 lakh food packets in national capital daily: RSS Delhi unit
From providing food to the needy to launching helpline for the medical assistance, Sangh workers were doing everything to help people in the national capital during the corona virus lockdown. RSS workers were distributing 1.3 food packets every day. The Sangh distributed more than 47,000 kits of ration among daily wagers and poor.
RSS workers also distributed ration packets among sex workers and distributed the similar kits among transgenders. 4500 volunteers used to work on the ground every day after taking approval from the administration.
This article was first published on April 04,2020 in The Deccan Herald
For details click on : https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/sangh-workers-distributing-13-lakh-food-packets-in-national-capital-daily-rss-delhi-unit-821233.html
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RSS to the rescue: Sangh workers reach out to the needy in Delhi in times of COVID-19
It was when the pandemic was simmering with total cases of COVID 19 inching towards 3000 and the deadly virus had claimed 68 lives. India had entered its day eleven of the lockdown, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) distributed food packages comprising of essential food ingredients to the needy in the national capital. The workers of the organization ever since the announcement of the lockdown have served the poor with the essentials.
To avoid hoarding, the RSS workers made sure to verify the people before providing them with the essentials, hence ensuring that the help reaches the right hands. Apart from raw food material, the RSS workers also distributed soaps, sanitizers and masks. Notably, the RSS members while distributing the relief packages made sure that social distancing norms issued by the government are observed.
The article was first published on April 05, 2020 in www.republicworld.com
For details click on : https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/rss-to-the-rescue-sangh-workers-reach-out-to-the-needy-in-delhi-in-ti.html
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RSS pitches in to provide relief to COVID hit people
The RSS has pushed its organizational machinery to shoulder the relief operations carried out by various state governments including UP, which are grappling with the lethal second wave of COVID pandemic. The BJP’s ideological fountainhead has deployed at least 2 conveners in every district and for every region to coordinate with the organizational functionaries in reaching out to people who have contracted COVID and r in dire need of immediate medical help.
In case of avadh prant, the RSS has appointed senior organizational workers to coordinate with the grassroots Sangh workers who have been asked to fan out across the state and provide all possible assistance including medical and other essential services to the people. Sources set that the Sangh has activated its functionaries ward wise to keep a close vigil on people coming from outside the state.
The article was first published on April 20,2021 in The Times of India.
For details click on : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rss-pitches-in-to-provide-relief-to-covid-hit-people/articleshow/82167039.cms

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The Sangh and Sewa(Service)
During pandemic, lockdown, the RSS has come to serve the society. This represents its essence. On March 24, the Prime Minister announced the lockdown. There was no other option for a pandemic-stricken country. On March 25, giving a message to Swayamsevak, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat adjourned all Sangh shakhas and sent out a call for each swayamsewak to engage in public service.
The night before that, the mukhya shikshak (head of the local shakha) called to say that we must all think about what we could do in this difficult situation. The Sangh chief’s message the next morning convinced all of us, local volunteers, that we had been on the right track. We held a discussion among ourselves and decided to set up a system to fulfil the needs of the local community, especially the disadvantaged and the working class. We decided to ensure there is no starvation in the neighbourhood around us.
The article was first published on April 21, 2020 in The Indian Express
For details click on : https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rss-coronavirus-covid-19-india-lockdown-6371293/
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RSS in the time of Covid: From plasma donation to conducting last rites.
For the RSS and its nationwide network, shakha activities were put on hold and, instead, the entire machinery was redirected to outreach and relief work. According to the organisation, the vibhag ran over 92,000 relief centres in five months. The other measures include: 483 medicine distribution centres; donation of blood by over 60,000 workers; and distribution of over 73.8 lakh ration kits.
From the Covid-recovered donating their plasma to opening shelters for returning migrants in Bihar, from distributing food packets in West Bengal to providing masks and sanitisers in Karnataka; from donating TV sets for students to access virtual classes in Kerala to organising vehicles during the lockdown in Chhattisgarh — and helping conduct the last rites of victims in Maharashtra.
The article was first published on August 10, 2020, in The Indian Express.
For details click on : https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-in-the-time-of-covid-from-plasma-donation-to-conducting-last-rites-6548122/
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RSS actively supporting community during COVID-19, says Australian envoy.
Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farell met the chief Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Mohan Bhagwat and said the organisation has been actively supporting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The @RSSorg has been actively supporting the community during COVID19. I met with Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat who shared the relief measures the organisation has adopted across India during these challenging times,” Mr. O’Farrell tweeted with the pictures of the meeting which took place at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur.
The article was first published on November 16, 2020, in The Hindu.
For details click on : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rss-actively-supporting-community-during-covid-19-says-australian-envoy/article33104523.ece

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RSS to work with people who did outstanding work during Covid-19 pandemic: Bhagwat
Deputy secretary Dattatreya Hosabale called for a survey of RSS volunteers who being active traders and businessmen could help generate jobs for the unemployed and contribute to making the nation self-reliant.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said the organisation needed to work closely with such people who had rendered outstanding and selfless service during the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
The article was first published on Nov 23, 2020, in The Hindustan Times.
For details click on : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-to-work-with-people-who-did-outstanding-work-during-covid-19-pandemic-bhagwat/story-TDyRf08B3TaPupZ9Bb0LkN.html

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Covid-19: RSS sets up isolation centre in Noida.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh set up an isolation centre in Noida’s Sector 12 area in Uttar Pradesh to treat coronavirus patients. With the basic infrastructure like drinking water, toilets, washrooms and fresh food facility the centre was operational for those who have mild or no symptoms and those who don’t require immediate medical attention.
As soon as we get oxygen cylinders, we will start admitting those who need oxygen support,” Dr Tyagi, the Sahprant Prachar Pramukh said. A team of doctors, who are RSS members, are being consulted for treating Covid-19 patients. “The volunteers will share details of each patient to seek medical assistance,” he added.
The article was first published on April 26,2021 in India Today.
For details click on : https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/noida/story/covid-19-rss-sets-up-isolation-centre-in-noida-1794953-2021-04-26
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Octogenarian volunteer of RSS dies of covid-19 after giving up hospital bed to save a young man
Narayan Dabhadkar, a 85 year old Rashtriya SwayamSevak Sangh (RSS) member from Nagpur, gave up his hospital bed for another young patient. Narayan died three days later, battling Covid-19. The Facebook post of an RSS sevika, Shivani Wakhare, on Facebook, in Marathi reads, “Narayan Dabhadkar, an RSS worker who spent his entire life serving the society, contracted Covid-19 amid the second wave of the pandemic. As his SPO2 levels dropped to 60, his daughter frantically tried to get him a hospital bed in the city.” After several attempts, she managed to reserve a bed for him at the Indira Gandhi hospital. As the two waited for the hospital formalities to be completed, Dabhadkar kaka saw a woman in her 40’s along with her children crying and begging the hospital authorities for a bed to admit her husband, who was in a critical condition.
Rising to help, Dabhadkar kaka calmly informed the medical team tending to him that his bed should be offered to the lady’s husband. He said, “I am 85 now, have lived my life, you should offer the bed to this man instead, his children need him.” Doctors told him that he might not get better if he does not stay in hospital for treatment, but Dabhadkar insisted on giving up his bed.
The article was first published on April 27, 2021 in Swarajya.
For details click on : https://swarajyamag.com/insta/octogenarian-volunteer-of-rss-dies-of-covid-19-after-giving-up-hospital-bed-for-saving-a-young-man
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RSS begins drive to dispel rumours about vaccination, says Centre, states providing all help
Pointing out that the impact of the second wave of Covid-19 has been huge in India, RSS Prachar Pramukh (publicity chief) Sunil Ambekar said focus is on providing help to all.
RSS Prachar Pramukh also said the RSS has initiated a campaign to spread greater awareness about the Covid vaccination drive and dispel rumours regarding it. “The focus of the RSS is on extending help to the needy, providing them relief.” he said. India impacted the most during second wave, and RSS extended help to those in need whether it is regarding providing food, sanitisers, medicines and oxygen.
The article was first published on April 29, 2021 in The Print.
For details click on : https://theprint.in/india/rss-begins-drive-to-dispel-rumours-about-vaccination-says-centre-states-providing-all-help/648191/
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COVID-19: RSS Joins Effort With Local Organisations To Provide Relief To Maharashtra
Amidst India battling an unprecedented viral apocalypse, the Konkan Prant unit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) joined efforts with 11 organisations to provide relief to COVID patients, their relatives and frontline workers in the state of Maharashtra. The organisation provided hospital beds and oxygen concentrators to those infected along with wheelchairs to homebound patients. Apart from the physical aid, it also provided free of cost counselling and guidance related to ayurvedic, homoeopathic and allopathic medicines. It has also organized multiple blood donation camps and has narrowed the search for plasma by preparing lists of donors. For this purpose, RSS also launched a helpline number (022-41667566).
Several blood donation camps were set up across Mumbai as well as other districts of Maharashtra. Units of blood were collected from such camps, and an awareness campaign regarding plasma donation has been undertaken in Mumbai and lists of donors as well as receivers are being prepared in Mumbai.
The article was first published on May 05, 2021 in Republicworld.com
For details click on : https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/covid-19-rss-joins-effort-with-local-organisations-to-provide-relief-to-maharashtra.html
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RSS launches campaign to counter Covid doomsdayers, shifts strategy to relief efforts.
Deeply concerned by the second wave of Covid-19 that has hit the country hard, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) launched a massive nationwide campaign to provide relief to victims as well as counter an atmosphere of “negativity”, with the organisation’s Sarsanghchalak (chief) Mohan Bhagwat slated to address the nation in second week of May. The campaign was launched in the third week of April.
Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat’s address was aimed at creating a positive atmosphere as the RSS felt that it is important to counter the negativity that seems to be propagated knowingly as well as unknowingly by many people. The RSS’ Sar Karyavah (general secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale had recently cautioned that anti-Bharat elements could take advantage of the prevailing situation in wake of the second Covid-19 wave that has brutally impacted the country.
The article was first published on May 10, 2021 in The Print.
For details click on : https://theprint.in/india/rss-launches-campaign-to-counter-covid-doomsdayers-shifts-strategy-to-relief-efforts/655629/
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RSS Swayamsevaks (volunteers) set up 17,300 beds in Isolation and Covid care centers, Sangh goes all out to help Covid-hit families
Like first Corona wave, in the second wave also, the Swayamsevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were engaged in the work of aiding the affected families and the needy through Sewa Bharati and many other organizations and institutions.
In a press release issued by RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar told that Swayamsevaks have started many works that include, isolation centers for patients with possibility of Corona and Corona Care Centers for infected patients, providing assistance to government run Covid Care Centers and hospitals, helpline number for assistance, online medical advice, blood donation, plasma donation, helping with funerals, distribution of Ayurvedic kaada and medicines , counseling, oxygen supply and ambulance service, distribution of food ration and masks, help with vaccination campaign, various awareness campaigns and hearse vans to take bodies of the deceased for the last rites.
The article was first published on May 18, 2021, in www.newsroompost.com.
For details click on : https://newsroompost.com/india/rss-swayamsevaks-set-up-17300-beds-in-isolation-and-covid-care-centers-sangh-goes-all-out-to-help-covid-hit-families/1290964.html
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How the RSS’s Covid relief campaign is helping thousands
The social service wing of the RSS and its affiliates was providing oxygen cylinders, concentrators and medicines to thousands in need and, also built Covid care centres and assisted families in cremating their dead
On May 17, the Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) hospital in Kolar—100 km from Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru—came back to life. The hospital, closed for nearly two decades, had begun accepting patients again. It took nearly 300 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers two weeks to clear up the debris, weeds and cobwebs and revive the 800-bed hospital, built in 1880. “It was a joint operation with the society, government and RSS volunteers,” says Parag Abhyankar, Akhil Bharatiya Seva Pramukh, RSS. In mid-April, the RSS devised a multipronged strategy to consolidate these efforts and counter the atmosphere of “negativity” under its new umbrella vehicle—Covid Response Team (CRT).
The article was first published on May 23, 2021, in India Today.
For details click on : https://www.indiatoday.in//india-today-insight/story/how-the-rss-s-covid-relief-campaign-is-helping-thousands-1805971-2021-05-23?onetap=true

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RSS’ Jan Kalyan Samiti provides oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and Ayush 64 medicines to COVID patients in Mumbai
In Mumbai, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Jan Kalyan Samiti had provided oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and Ayush 64 medicines to the COVID-19 patients.
The RSS’ Jan Kalyan Samiti provided food packets to 67.33 lakh people, ayurvedic medicines to more than 7 lakh persons and more than 88 thousand families were distributed foodgrain. Apart from this, the Samiti also provided hand gloves, sanitisers, face masks and food packets to employees of government organizations, civic bodies, hospitals and Mumbai police.

Sakaryawah of RSS’ Jan Kalyan Samiti, Suhas Joshi told AIR that the organization has also given wheelchairs, crutches, AIR chairs for use at 40 places in Mumbai.
He said, since April 2021 the Samiti has provided 20 oxygen concentrators and more than 100 oxygen cylinders to more than 100 covid positive patients in Mumbai.
The article was first published on June 02, 2021 in Newsonair.gov.in
For details click on : https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=RSS%26%2339%3B-Jan-Kalyan-Samiti-provides-oxygen-concentrators%2C-oxygen-cylinders-and-Ayush-64-medicines-to-COVID-patients-in-Mumbai&id=418623

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