With RSS pushing social sector outreach, Rashtriya Sewa Bharati set to hold its NGOs’ biggest huddle

The event also comes at a time when the BJP-led central government has tightened regulatory screws on the NGOs that receive foreign funding. Many such voluntary entities working in the social sector have had their registrations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) cancelled for alleged violation of rules over the last few years. This has led to shrinking of activities of many NGOs in different parts of the country.

The Sangh has trained its focus on the RSB – an umbrella organisation supporting over 1,000 aligned NGOs and self-help groups (SHGs) – following its work during the Covid pandemic, when the RSS’ regular activities had come to a standstill. The RSB’s work then was perceived to have generated significant goodwill among the masses for the RSS.

The RSB was established in the early 1980s following a call by then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras for giving a formal shape to all the social work that was being done by the Sangh Parivar. It focuses on providing support, training, research and analysis, and upgradation to its affiliates and their representatives. These NGOs largely work in the field of health, education, and livelihood. The RSB also provides them support and guidance in social activities and disaster and relief works.

The RSB’s stated aim is “not only to bring economical sustainability but to develop the duty of social responsibility, equality, and thought of nationality among the beneficiaries”.

According to the RSB, about 5,000 representatives from more than 1,000 NGOs will participate in the conference, called Rashtriya Sewa Sangam, whose theme is “Self-reliant and Prosperous India”.

The RSB’s president Pannalal Bhansali has claimed that in the past one year alone it has been able to provide employment to 25,000 youth. It has undertaken 43,045 social service projects, including 16,184 efficiency projects, 10,513 health projects, 6,805 self-help projects and 9,543 social projects, Bhansali said.

As many as 12,187 SHGs are running in 117 districts of the country, in which there are about 1,20,000 members, Bhansali said. Among them, 2,451 groups are active in the works of self-reliance, he added.

“The primary focus of the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati is to provide equal education and training opportunities for all to empower every individual of the country towards realising the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat or self-reliant India. The main and implicit objective of the RSB is to build a harmonious, capable, and self-reliant society and a prosperous India by establishing synergy between the collective efforts of the voluntary organisations associated with it,” Bhansali said.

Significantly, the RSB is part of the RSS’ Swawalamban Abhiyan, which was announced last year to take forward the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan through grassroots engagements. The Sangh’s campaign being undertaken through its various affiliates aims to encourage the youth to take up self-employment instead of seeking jobs by identifying and supporting their entrepreneurial potential.