Already struggling to get people to attend its shakhas (branches), recent revelations alleging RSS functionaries involvement in Malegaon, Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts have dealt a severe blow in their effort to attract youth to join them. Though RSS blames the “hectic lifestyle” of people preventing them from attending these shakhas, the gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the issue was one of the main topics of discussion during the recently held meeting of RSS leaders in Jodhpur.
The RSS, which mainly recruits its volunteers through these shakhas, is disturbed over the fact that these shakhas are witnessing drastic fall in number of people who are willing to attend them.
Not only this, after the alleged role of some of the RSS functionaries in terror attacks in the country, number of young people attending these shakhas, has started dribbling. From an earlier figure of over 50,000 shakhas across the country, the number of shakhas have reduced to around 30,000 presently in the last couple of years. In the national capital, the figure at present is less than 1,500 which used to be around 2,000 some years back. Sources said most of the prant pracharaks, who had gathered in Jodhpur, raised the issue with senior Sangh leaders, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
A senior RSS functionary said the Hindu terrorism issue has definitely put a dent on Sangh’s image, which in turn has affected the attendance level in shakhas.
“We receive complaints from our gan-shikshaks (group teachers) that attendance has drastically reduced in some of the shakhas. In most of the shakhas, only senior citizens are participating. Young people are reluctant to join these shakhas, especially after Hindu terror tag on us,” said the senior RSS functionary.
Most of these shakhas are held in the morning where participants are taught yoga or some form of martial art like stick fighting. These shakhas also act as venues for interaction between participants and RSS pracharaks. “We had to close down some of the shakhas as there was hardly any attendance. It’s not a healthy trend,” said the senior RSS functionary.