RSS says 2,188 shakhas active in Chhattisgarh; Bastar’s shift from Naxalism discussed

RAIPUR: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), during its centenary year review, said it has expanded its organisational footprint in Chhattisgarh, where 2,188 shakhas are currently functioning across 1,643 locations in 34 districts.The figures were shared at a press conference in Raipur by RSS regional chief Dr Purnendu Saxena and state chief Toplal Verma after the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the organisation’s top decision-making body, held at Samalkha near Panipat in Haryana from March 13 to 15. The RSS leaders said the representative assembly also discussed the improving situation in Bastar with its gradual movement away from Naxal violence.

The annual meeting, attended by 1,438 representatives from across the country, reviewed the organisation’s work, discussed future plans and assessed programmes undertaken in the Sangh’s 100th year. Addressing mediapersons at Jagruti Mandal in Pandri, the RSS leaders said that nationally, the RSS said it now runs 88,949 shakhas at 55,683 places, including student and college branches. In Chhattisgarh, the Sangh said its 2,188 shakhas include 1,246 student joint branches, 124 college youth branches, 482 youth professional branches, 192 adult professional branches and 144 children’s branches.

They added that 55 urban centres are shakha-linked and that 26 district centres in the state now have at least five shakhas each. They said the assembly also heard reports on successful organisational and social initiatives from different regions, as well as the work of 38 organisations active in various spheres of public life.