RSS plans shakha expansion, wider outreach to mark centenary year | India News
RSS plans branch expansion, massive campaign to mark centenary year (Photo Credit: PTI)
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in its centenary year will focus on expanding its ‘branches’ and taking forward public outreach activities, the organization said as it emphasizes both organizational growth and wider social engagement as part of its 100th year initiative.Addressing a press conference in Samalkha, Panipat, RSS joint general secretary CR Mukund said on Friday that the organization was laying “special emphasis” on branch expansion and outreach to society on the occasion of its centenary year, according to news agency PTI.The comment came as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale inaugurated the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Pratya Sabha (ABPS), the apex decision-making body of the Sangh, at Samalkha in Haryana.
Focus on branch growth and social engagement
Mukund said the Sangh’s centenary plan has “two main dimensions” – organizational expansion through branch growth, and a parallel effort to engage society, build harmony and mobilize people for “social transformation and public awakening”.He said that the RSS has already reached over 10 crore homes under its ‘Grihasampark’ (mass communication) program and covered more than 3 lakh villages across the country.As part of this outreach, Mukund said the organization has also seen what he described as the positive impact of “Sabhav Gosti” and “Pramukh Nagarik Gosti”, according to PTI.
Kerala outreach highlights
Highlighting outreach efforts in Kerala, Mukund said RSS volunteers visited a wide range of households, including Muslim, Christian and even communist-leaning families.“In Kerala, more than 55,000 Muslim and 54,000 Christian households were covered under the public outreach initiative,” he said.“We got a warm welcome wherever we went. Our ‘swayamsevaks’ reached 55,000 Muslim and 54,000 Christian homes,” added Mukund, noting that the Sangh has extended the initiative to tribal areas as well.
Hindu conferences, youth meetings and social harmony events
As this year marks the centenary of the RSS, the ABPS meeting is expected to elaborate on major campaigns planned to mark the occasion. These include ‘Home Affairs’, Hindu Conferences, Youth Conferences, Gatherings of Eminent Citizens and Social Harmony Meetings.Mukund said that Hindu conferences have already been held in more than 36,000 places across the country, with more events planned in urban centres, rural areas and remote areas.He also said that the Sangh is trying to involve prominent citizens of different areas as community leaders and working with local leaders, heads of spiritual organizations and heads of religious centers at the block level to promote harmony and social reforms.
Five changes and broad issues
Mukund also spoke about the RSS’s ‘Panch Manvaryan’ initiative, which focuses on social harmony, preservation of family values, environment protection, comfort and self-reliance and fulfillment of legal, civic and constitutional responsibilities.“Together, we aim to deliberate and implement positive initiatives that bring about the necessary social reforms. Specifically, the Sangh has identified five transformations. The five key themes represent the changes currently desired within the society,” he said, according to PTI.On broader issues, Mukund said the situation in Naxal-hit areas is slowly returning to normalcy due to government efforts, while “political stability is coming” in Manipur and ongoing inter-communal dialogue is yielding results.He also said that the Sangh wants the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps to protect the rights and interests of Hindus there. Asked about the conflict in West Asia, Mukund said the crisis should end soon, adding that “we and Indian society believe so”.
The main meeting is going on in Samalkha
The three-day ABPS meeting will review the activities of the RSS during 2025-26 and evaluate the major initiatives taken in various regions, RSS All India Publicity Chief Sunil Ambekar said earlier, PTI reported.A total of 1,487 officials including elected representatives and key office bearers from across the country along with presidents, general secretaries and organizing secretaries of 32 affiliated organizations are participating. BJP chief Nitin Naveen and senior officials of the Sangh’s sister organizations are also expected to be present.
