Youth are joining RSS in large numbers across the country

More than 1 lakh people are joining RSS every year through “Join RSS”

24,000 volunteers took training in the training camps organised in 2024

Year-long campaign to spread the life message of Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai Holkar to society

Ranchi, Jharkhand (July 14, 2024)

Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sunil Ambekar, said that a large number of youth in the country are expressing their desire to join the Sangh. They are joining, too. In 2012, Sangh started an online medium, “Join RSS” (online through website). Under this, every year, one to 1.25 lakh people join Sangh in its various activities through online medium. This year, until June, 66529 people contacted and expressed their desire to join Sangh.

 

The structure of Sangh training camps and syllabus has been changed from this year. This year, a total of 72 camps (Sangh Shiksha Varga - 60, Karyakarta Vikas Varga I - 11, Karyakarta Vikas Varga II - 1) were organised across the country for Swayamsevaks below 40 years of age and a total of 20615 volunteers took training. 3335 Swayamsevaks participated in 18 camps organised for people between 40 to 65 years of age group. Last year, one lakh new people participated in Prathmik Shiksha Varg. Similarly, in the new structure, for the first time, Prarambhik Varga (three days) is being organised across the country for Swayamsevaks, in which youth are participating in twice the numbers as compared to Prathamik.

 

During a press briefing held on the last day of the Akhil Bharatiya Prant (provincial) Pracharak meeting in Ranchi, Sunil Ambekar informed the media about the meeting. He informed that a total of 227 Karyakartas were present during this meeting. Many important issues related to the organisation were discussed during this meeting. Jharkhand Prant Sanghchalak Sachchidanand Lal ji, Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh Narendra Kumar ji and Pradeep Joshi ji were present during this press briefing. Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak meeting of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was held on July 12-14, 2024, in Sarla Birla University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Samanvay Baithak (coordination meeting) of various organisations for mutual discussions, will be held on August 31 to September 2, 2024, in Palakkad, Kerala.

 

Sunil Ambekar ji said, “By Vijayadashami 2025 (when the Sangh will complete 100 years of the foundation), the target has been set to expand Sangh’s works and daily Shakhas in all the mandals in rural areas and all settlements in urban areas of the country. Out of total 58,981 mandals (as per Sangh Structure) in the country, daily Shakhas are run in 36,823 mandals. Similarly, out of 23649 settlements (as per Sangh structure) in urban areas of the country, Sangh’s presence is visible in 14,645 settlements. In rest of the places, weekly and monthly meetings are organised. At present, there are about 73,117 daily Shakhas and 27,717 weekly Milan. Apart from this, at those place where there is no Shakha activity or contact, in 1,58,532 such villages, Sangh is spreading positive messages, spiritual thoughts and messages of Sadhus-Sanyasis to the people through Jagran Patrika (Monthly Magazines for Social Awakening). During 15 days of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Akshat distribution Campaign, Swayamsevaks reached out to 5.75 lakh villages.”

 

For future plan, he informed that this year is the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar. Punyashlok Ahilyabaidevi set an ideal in her life despite adverse circumstances. With the help of society, Swayamsevaks will work this year to take her life message to everyone. It has been started from Indore on May 31st this year.

 

With a view to the development of rural areas, a special plan is being made to combine Gau Sewa and Gram Vikas. These two initiatives are being combined and accelerated to improve the situation in villages. There is also an appeal to youth to stay in villages for 24 hours, observe these initiatives and participate in them.

 

He further said that swayamsevaks are doing Sewa work across the country. Special focus is also given to self-reliance along with Sewa work, so that the Sewa recipient becomes self-dependent. Whether it is Manipur or other places of the country, Swayamsevaks continues to do Sewa work wherever they are.

 

Society has responded well to Sangh’s activities related to environmental protection. Preparation is also going on regarding Panch Parivartan (Five Point Transformation – that is social harmony, family values, ecological conservation, Swadeshi (Bharatiya) conduct, and civic duty) and constant efforts are being taken in the society regarding the same through various contact programmes.

 

While answering a question, Sunil Ambekar said that Sangh does not directly participate in elections. It engages in awareness and lokmat parishkar (refining public opinion) during every election. During the 2024 elections also, Swayamsevaks worked on lokmat parishkar by organising small intellectual meets. People are supreme in democracy. All political parties express their views to the people, and people have given their verdict. We all should respect people’s verdicts.

 

On a question on religious conversion, he clarified that conversion should not happen through deception, greed, or force. This is wrong. There are laws to stop this, and everyone should follow the laws.

 

Pujaniya Sarsanghchalak ji, in his speech earlier has talked about population imbalance. Even society must be concerned about population imbalance. Whatever action is taken in this regard, the Sangh will move forward from that point of view. Whatever is appropriate to do in this regard, Sangh will take the appropriate steps.

 

While answering a question on emergency, he said imposing emergency was wrong. This should not happen in a democracy. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh opposed emergency. Hundreds of Sangh Swayamsevaks were persecuted for opposing emergency.