One of the associates which shouldered a major chunk of the relief distribution work is Seva Bharati. Relief materials have been donated by “philanthrophists and industrialists and an important provider from the latter category is from Gujarat”. The healing touch to the grievously hurt and those with multiple but not-so-serious injuries is still being coordinated by National Medical Organisation of Manipur under whose banner a fairly good number of doctors and paramedical staff have been attending to the patients regularly.
With agricultural and other economic activity completely thrown out of gear for the last 20 months, RSS “used its good offices” in what was a BJP-ruled state since 2017 and till February 12, to secure help from the “line departments of agriculture, skill and entrepreneurship development” to re-engage people who depended for their livelihood on agriculture and jobs that can be handled with low skill levels. For guidance and training in agricultural activity, involvement of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been organised, sources told IPA.
Also, technical expertise has been drawn upon from the Central Agricultural University, which is headquartered in Manipur, with associate campuses in other North-Eastern states, except Assam where a separate agricultural university exists. They made it clear all these welfare and distress mitigation activity has had to be restricted to the Meitei-dominated Valley districts. It was thus a tacit admission that the Kuki-Zo-dominated hill areas have thus far been out of bounds for RSS and its associates.
In this context it may be mentioned that strife-scarred Manipur figured prominently in the report of the RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale placed at the annual Pratinidhi Sabha session held in Bengaluru from March 21-23. Perhaps, the most important observation of Hosabale was that it would take a long time for an atmosphere of cordiality and trust to emerge in Manipur. Addressing the media, joint general secretary of RSS C R Mukunda said: “Now there is some hope in the people and our organisation as President’s rule has been imposed [with effect from March 13. And there are a few things that could be set right administratively. But, it will take a long time to heal the wounds in Manipur”. Read between the lines, it is clear from Mukunda’s observation that President’s rule has made RSS optimistic. But, the poser can be: Optimistic about what?
The obvious answer is revival of RSS’ organisational activity which the outfit regularly carries out through its net of shakhas. During the prolonged turmoil not only has the regular activity of shakhas badly suffered but also expansion of the shakha network just could not be taken up. As, it is the ethnic and demographic configuration of Manipur has compelled RSS to restrict its activity to the valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal inhabited by Meiteis. At times there has been some suggestions from functionaries that the organisation has been slowly succeeding in penetrating the hill areas inhabited by tribal people of whom Kuki-Zos form the majority. The most prominent of the Kuki-Zo majority districts are Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal. In atleast two districts — Senapati and Ukhrul — Nagas have a strong presence. But, there is a consensus among Manipur watchers that it is still a long way to go for what they call a “satisfactory RSS presence”.
The main reason is that a vast majority of the tribals are Christians and, therefore, the writ of the churches rums in those districts. “It’s a religious reason why we have not been able to undertake distress-mitigation work in the relief camps in those areas. Setting up of shakhas to ensure a visible presence of RSS, therefore, is tough call at the moment for us. “Let’s be frank; but that does not mean we are going to sit idle. We propose to start relief work among IDPs in the hill areas through our affiliates and associates, such as, Seva Bharati and National Medical Organisation. [Functionaries and other informed quarters agreed that there are a fairly sizeable number of Christians among Meiteis too but that’s “not a hindrance to our organisational and welfare work”].
As indicated by Hosabale and Mukunda, RSS will make an all-out bid to revive its organisational activity during the President’s rule. Although the Assembly has been kept under suspended animation, revival of BJP rule in the near future looks uncertain. (IPA Service)
RSS INITIATES ORGANISATIONAL WORK IN MANIPUR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PRESIDENT’S RULE
SANGH AFFILIATES INFILTRATE DISPLACED PERSONS CAMPS THROUGH RELIEF WORK
Rabindra Nath Sinha - 2025-03-27 10:32
KOLKATA: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, had to reconcile with the unwelcome proposition of practically remaining organisationally inactive in Manipur for over 21 months since the outbreak of ethnic violence in that small state on May 3, 2023. But inquiries from informed quarters in Imphal reveal that RSS succeeded in utilising the services of some of its associates and affiliates for reaching out to a fairly large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relief camps. The sources told IPA that so far relief materials worth Rs 10 crores have been distributed among IDPs.