In a bid to expand its base in villages and connect rural people with pro-Hindu ideology, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has come up with two new programmes — Sashakt Gram-Sashakt Hindu and Rajmarg Sampark Yojana.
While these programmes are being introduced across the country, RSS has begun the drive from Uttar Pradesh. In order to ensure the effort is successful, RSS’s sarkaryawah Suresh Joshi alias Bhaiyyaji Joshi is camping in Lucknow for the last four days holding meetings with state-level office bearers of RSS’s different wings and BJP.
Under ‘Sashakt Gram-Sashakt Hindu’ programme, RSS will appeal to the villagers to remain united across the caste lines and ensure that all the villagers collectively work for the development and improvement of quality of life in their village.
Under ‘Rajmarg Sampark Yojana’, RSS office bearers will preferably visit the villages located around the state highways and run awareness programmes related to education and cleanliness and organise shakhas there.
Sources said that Joshi has asked that committees at village level be formed to run awareness programmes related to education, cleanliness and female foeticide. Joshi has also asked the office bearers to appeal to rural people to avoid using foreign-made goods and giving preference to Hindi language over English while writing signatures.
Sources said Joshi had made similar appeals during his recent visit to Sitapur on Wednesday where around 50 villagers were invited at a school campus. Joshi, according to sources, interacted with villagers and collected information about literacy and employed youths in the village.
Sewa Bharti, an RSS organisation that runs programmes related to health, education and cleanliness services, has been asked to continuously run their programme as that will help the rural people connect with RSS.
“Such village-level programmes of RSS will help the BJP in upcoming panchayat elections. Support of rural people will be essential for the party in 2017 Assembly elections,” said a BJP leader.
The BJP has won seats in Assembly elections largely in urban areas while its performance in rural areas have been poor because of lack of workers and organisational activities.