The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Sunday paid tributes to late Samajwadi Party (SP) patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, socialist leader Sharad Yadav, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Heeraben and around hundred other people who died in last one year, at the beginning of its annual general body meeting at Samalkha, Panipat. The three-day meet will see several resolutions and discussions including the women participation in the organisation.
The annual general meeting of the RSS, headed by Mohan Bhagwat, is being attended by over 1400 representatives from 34 organizations directly or indirectly affiliated with the RSS, from all over the country. BJP Chief JP Nadda and national general secretary BL Santosh are also present.
Sources from the organisation also pointed towards big organisational changes to be decided in the annual meet which is the last annual meet---the most important meet which decides the agenda of the Sangh for next one year---- before the general elections, schedule next year. The changes will be visible in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar cadre of RSS followed by the BJP.
Planning to have women participation
Responding to a question if the ‘Sangh’ is planning to have more women participation, joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya said that the organisation is mulling on this issue.
“Kam se kam prabodhnatmak karyo me unka sahbhag ho, aisa vichaar chal raha hai,” (we are considering women participation, at least in awareness and discussion programs) said Mr Vaidya.
Speaking about the expansion plans of the RSS, Mr Vaidya said that the Sangh is working at 71355 places across India and it aims to reach at 1 lakh places before 2025, that is the 100th year of the RSS. He maintained that ‘Shakhas’ (the smallest unit of RSS), has seen an impressive rise after pandemic.
“In 2020, there were 62491 shakhas use to take place at 38913 places. Sangh use to hold weekly meeting at 20303 places and monthly congregations at 8732 places. After a gap in public interaction during Covid, in 2023, the number of Shakhas has increased to 68651 which are now running at 42613 places,” said Mr Vaidya.
He also said that significant increase in weekly meetings has also been registered with 6000 more weekly meeting happening across the country and around 3000 more monthly congregations happening countrywide.
“As the RSS divides the country in 911 districts, we have our shakhas or direct working in 901 districts. We plan to increase it to all 911 districts and in order to increase the Sangh’s work in the centenary year, over 1300 Pracharaks and Vistaraks will be deployed to reach out to masses in next two years,” added Mr Vaidya.
The RSS joint general secretary claimed that the Sangh has received 7,25,000 requests of people who are willing to join RSS, via ‘Join RSS’ link between 2017 to 2022. Most of theose showed interest were youths in the age group of 20 to 35.
“Sixty percent of the Sangh’s branches are student branches,” he added.
