Buoyed by the prospect of the BJP coming to power after the Lok Sabha polls, its parent organisation, the RSS, has drawn up a three-phase plan to revive and expand its network of shakhas across the country.
The Sangh has advised its cadres to be serious about the opening of new branches so that they can “increase the impact” of the organisation.
The daily shakha is the most visible symbol of the RSS. After the BJP-led NDA’s six-year rule ended in 2004, the number of shakhas fell across the country, from 51,000 in 2005-06 to about 40,000 in January 2010. However, in the last one year, shakhas have witnessed partial revival. Currently, 44,982 shakhas are active at 29,624 places, and more people have shown interest in joining the RSS as swayamsevaks, sources said.
The RSS recently posted on its Facebook page, “A shakha should be established at a place that is prominent and where people can easily get together. All energy and effort should be concentrated to build such a shakha. All energetic youth should join this shakha.”
An RSS functionary said, the expansion of the organistaion’s work has been planned in three phases – the first phase till 2015, the second till 2018 and third till 2025. There has been an increase in the participation of youth in activities in all spheres of the Sangh Parivar’s work, especially in seva (service)-related activities.
Many training programmes were organised for volunteers during 2013-2014. In all, 48 firstyear common Sangh Siksha Vargs (training), six first year special Sangh Siksha Vargs, 12 second year Sangh Siksha Vargs, one common third year Sangh Siksha Varg, one third-year special Sangh Siksha Varg were held. In the first year common Varg, 10,435 swayamsevaks from 6,759 places, and in the first year special Varg, 386 swayamsevaks from 286 places attended as trainees. In the second year training programme, 2,231 swayamsevaks from 1,825 places attended as trainees.