Ma.
Suresh Sadashiv Joshi affectionately known as bhaiyaji is the present
Sarkaryawah of RSS. He hails from Indore. He completed his education while in
Service in Dombivli ( Dist - Thane). Since 1975 he has been working as
Sangh Pracharak and has wide experience in Sewa Vibhag of RSS. From
Maharashtra Prant Sewa Pramukh to All India Sewa Pramukh he has shouldered many
responsibilities in the area of sewa karyas and while doing so has acquired
acumen of various facets of sewa activites. Presented are the main points
emerging from discussions held with him.
When the
Sewa Vibhag was planned by RSS and what was the thought behind setting up the
same?
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been working since last 88 years.
During this period RSS has spread its work in different fields. Through its
work ethics and its motto, RSS has been able to build up a group of useful,
awakened and cultured people in the society. This has been the path on which
RSS is working. In the same way RSS has a system of exchanging the virtues
among all. In this process of sharing the virtues the Swayamsevaks hold
discussions on various subjects.
The Swayamsevaks are enriched with the thought of ‘Our Country’
‘Our Society’ and that its joys and sorrows are my own, its challenges are mine
too. This upbringing of the swayamsevaks has resulted in the Swayamsevaks
naturally offering their services to the society in times of calamities –
natural or created by man, whether it be an accident, earthquake, flood or an
epidemic.
The Founder of RSS - Dr. Keshav Baliram Pant Hedgewar, while in
his educating years in Kolkata had helped the flood affected victims of Damodar
River along with his friends. Latter he assisted the patients affected by
plague in Nagpur by visiting them door to door. These visits left a deep impact
on the minds of the numerous Swayamsevaks visiting the shakhas. This process of
sewa karyas through shakhas continued between 1950 -1952. After the imposition
of first ban on RSS, some swayamsevaks commenced many sewa karyas as per the
needs of the Society, be it the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Jashpur, the Bharatiya
Kushtha Nivarak Sangh in Champa to serve the leprosy affected people or the
Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Talasary to bring about awareness through education
among the vanvasis. The Swayamsevaks participated with enthusiasm in all these
programs.
In times of calamities facing the society, Swayamsevaks assisted
the victims with full vigour. But it was realized that some sections of
the society are always surrounded by miseries and are compelled to lead a life
of poverty and sufferings. The Swayamsevaks felt it was their duty
to bring about a transformation in these masses through education and
sanskar. In 1989, on the occasion of birth centenary of Dr. Hedgewar it
was resolved to give an impetus to Sewa programs. The society was appealed to
contribute generously for the sewa programs the swayamsevaks are likely to
start in the near future, to which response of the masses was very positive. As
a result, post 1989 the RSS set up Sewa Vibhag.
Which are the important steps in the working of Sewa Vibhag?
RSS conducts ‘Shakhas’ throughout the country in which young,
children and the adults participate. Through these Shakhas, apart from good
sanskars, a healthy secured environment in and around Shakha is automatically
created which keep the society united.
The Swayamsevaks made efforts to enrich the society with this
culture through their daily interactions. Between 1990-1995 major strides were
taken to develop further ’Service to the Society’ attitude. During the
birth Centenary Celebrations of Dr. Hedgewar the then Sarsanghachalak, Param
Poojniya Balasaheb Deoras proclaimed that in future RSS would start
5000 sewa projects. The 5000 sewa projects have now scaled upwards to 1.40
lakhs and can be witnessed everywhere.
In the
present context the sewakarya can be divided in two time eras:
1) 1989
to 2000 – expansion of
sewa
karyas
2) 2000
to 2013 – strengthening reaffirmation
of sewa karyas
Through
this process gained experience to register sewa karyas within the Govt. rules
and regulations and ledto setting up of various organizations in different
states. But various states had already started implementing programs
through organizations e.g. Jan Kalyan Samiti in Maharashtra, Jan Samiti in
Andhra Pradesh, Hindu Sewa Pratishthan and Rashtrothan Parishad in
Karnataka. Some orgnisations were set up during famine and in some others
for the benefit of vanvasis. After 1995, karyakartas in different states
set up organizations as per necessities of sewa activities in that prant. Sewa
karyas were started all over the country in the name of Sewa Bharati. In
addition, the swayamsevaks in various states commenced small programs such as
blood group examination, health check up, study classes and library for school
going children which were encouraged by the society. On the lines of Sewa
Bharati and Jan Kalyan Samiti at the national level the swayamsevaks registered
their organizations at the district and taluka levels and commenced different
sewa activities. Presently there are more than 1000 registered organizations
which are doing sewa activities in their respective areas through different
programs.
What type of relation is there between RSS and the Organisations
set up with its inspiration?
In the social circle RSS is looked as the coordinator by these
working organizations and also the workers of these organizations consider
themselves as swayamsevaks, the reason being these organizations have been
started by swayamsevaks. These organizations are independent but being
supported and inspired by RSS, the karyakartas of these organistions work with
a sense of responsibility as on a swayamsevak. These organizations, though
independent, are following the right path under the able guidance of swayamsevaks.
It is exemplary that none
of the sewa karyas are being done by RSS directly, but by swayamsevaks through
various organizations. The swayamsevaks do plan regularly different
programs in the shakhas. The number of such pograms planned are on the increase.
Such programs are held by organizing/collecting small sums of money by
swayamsevaks themselves. There are many programs which do not require
accessories in plenty except the time. Programs on education, health
check up, cultural centers are conducted by shakhas all over the country.
All these programs are recorded separately. These programs though number
more than 5000, are not included in 1.40 lacs programs mentioned above.
What was the necessity to set up sewa sansthas?
For undertaking any service oriented program funds are required to
be raised as per Government’s Rules, as also permission is required to be
sought from the Government before commencement. The swayamsevaks have
accordingly set up organizations as per Government Rules. There are two
reasons for setting up sewa sansthas in the RSS set up:
1. For
rendering any service to the society, funds are required and in the RSS set up
there is no process to raise such financial resources.
2. Also
in the RSS set up, there is no provision for women participants whereas in the
service organizations women have played a significant role.
RSS has
laid down the principle of ‘problem centric and result oriented planning’ for
formulating schemes before all the voluntary organizations in the country.
What is
the Sewa Sansthas’ basic object of sewa karya?
The basic
object of sewa sansthas can be split into three stages:
1. To
provide basic amenities to common man, which he is deprived of.
2. These
basic amenities are to be provided by the society itself.
3. Requirement
of karyakartas who can do sewa karya with affinity.
In this
process karyakartas are required who can realize the problems faced by the
society and work towards their solution. Through the RSS set up a large
number of karyakartas have been mobilised. Presently sewa karyas are
being done in the areas of education, health check up and self-reliance. Not
only that small sewa karyas are required, large type of projects are also
required. These sewa karyas can be divided in three stages:
1. Small
scale – these programs can be taken up with limited funds and karyakartas.
2. Medium
scale – require larger resources as well as more number of karyakartas.
3. Large
scale – are programs such as setting up of hospitals, hostels, residential
schools, Blood
Bank, eye bank etc.
RSS inspired organizations do sewa karyas by going through the
roots of the problem. With this view point ‘Balkalyan’ is one such project which
is run for street children. Similarly at some places self-reliance
programs are being run for leprosy affected patients. Under self-reliance
programs a large number of Self Help Groups have been set up across the country
in which apart from financial knowledge various thought provoking programs are
undertaken. Also under the health programs more than 10,000 ‘Arogya
Rakshaks’ are rendering health services. In the field of education work of
‘Ekal Vidyalayas’ is noteworthy. There is a vast net work of ‘Ekal
Vidayalayas’ in vanavasi areas, numbering over 25,000. There is lack of
media attention towards RSS inspired seva karyas, still how do you get public
support? Although there is no media attention on RSS inspired seva
organizations due to their persistent apathy for years, but it has no affect on
working of the RSS. Swayamsevaks work continuously facing all odds with
commitment. The local populace is well aware of these facts and have
accepted these seva karyas wholeheartedly. They say RSS represents ‘Ready
for Selfless Service’. This is the certificate awarded by the people at
large. The karyakartas work relentlessly and without paying any heed to the
lack of attention by the media and the good results are visible. The
common people are positive towards the RSS inspired programs undertaken by
organizations and always extend their helping hand to any of the programs
supported by RSS. This is the reason that all such programs where
Government aid is available only to a maximum extent of 15%, rest is mobilized
with people’s support. In the Seva Sangam held by Rashtriya Seva
Bharati in 2010 in Bangalore, Shri Shree Ravi Shankerji and Swami Ramdevji
attended the Sangam. What type of relationship these dignitaries have
with RSS? In our society there are a number of organizations engaged
in rendering services to it. However the RSS swayamsevaks do not compete
with them but instead provide a supporting role to them. Exchange of
thoughts and deeds constantly take place with such organizations because RSS
swayamsevaks do not consider such organizations as competitors.In our country a
number of service oriented programs are being carried out with the blessings of
eminent personalities and organizations have in turn benefitted with their
blessings. RSS maintains positive and proactive thoughts towards these
organizations rather viewing them as a competitor. This is the
reason that various organizations participated in the Seva Sangam on their own.
What is the difference between seva karyas done by RSS inspired
seva sansthas and other NGOs?
The
difference between RSS inspired seva organizations and other NGOs run by
missionaries, Muslim community are two fold:
1. Other
NGOs many a time, are dependent on Government assistance, whereas RSS supported
organizations are dependent on co-operation from the society.
2. RSS
inspired service organizations work not only for providing seva but for
bringing about transformation, whereas other NGOs consider service as their
goal.
RSS
insists that for seva karyas the finance and other resources are raised by
proper means to have desired results. So the sources for raising
funds are also effectively monitored. Whereas some particular NGOs
offer services to promote their religion.
Seva
Vibhag has completed 25 years of inception. What is your message to
Karyakartas who are connted with Sewa Karya?
For the last 25 years Sangh
swayamsevaks are actively engaged in sewa activities. Utilizing the
different opportunities, swayamsevaks have provided momentum to the sewa
programs by increasing their number to 1.40 lacs at present from a mere 5,000
programs in 1995. We firmly believe that the sewa activities do not
stop for want of resources. Devoted karyakartas are required all the
time to run such activities. RSS always insists on the quality of
these activities rather than the number and also on bringing about
transformation in the society. Through the medium of sewa karyas not only
the needs of the society is satisfied but also it develops a sense of self
confidence and self reliance among the beneficiaries.Keeping in view the
potential donors in the society, swayamsevaks should aim at resolving he
various issues in the society satisfactorily.
The Swayamsevaks should always
remember that to bring about the desired transformation in the society and to
win the hearts of the masses we should be very humble and polite while
interacting with its various sections. Our success will be
determined by thetransformation brought about in persons we are in contact
with. I always appeal that the swayamsevaks should focus on the
result rather than the publicity.
Today in the country there are large
sections of society who are looking at us with expectations.
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