KASHI: RSS Akhil Bharatiya Seva Pramukh Parag Abhyankar Ji said that while feeding the hungry is an important form of service, making a person self-reliant is the true objective of Seva Bharati. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Swavalamban and Vaibhav Shri training programme organised at Sant Atulanand Convent School in Koirajpur on Babatpur Road.
He said a person who is dependent on others today should be able to stand on his own feet tomorrow. Further, such a person should also be empowered to make other deprived sections of society self-reliant. He said this is the objective of the Swavalamban initiative of Seva Bharati.
Addressing the trainees, Parag Abhyankar Ji said the Sankalp of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh speaks of protecting Hindu society and working towards its all-round development. He said this requires removing disparities among different sections of society.
“Self-reliance is essential for the preservation of life and holistic development of an individual,” he said, adding that the Swavalamban and Vaibhav Shri initiatives were started after understanding the needs of weaker sections of society.
He said numerous service activities are being undertaken across the country through 980 service organisations among Vanvasi communities, people living in hilly regions, nomadic communities and Divyang brothers and sisters, with Seva Bharati as their parent organisation.
Speaking about the contribution of women to Seva Bharati’s service activities, Parag Ji said women possess not only a strong spirit of service but also excellent management skills, enabling them to contribute effectively to service initiatives.
He said the spirit of service comes naturally to Indians and that serving others and feeling blessed by doing so has been an integral part of the Indian tradition. While feeding a person is immediate relief, he said, making that person self-reliant is a form of sustainable service.
“Everyone should have equal opportunities for progress and development,” he said.
Parag Ji noted that during its initial years, Seva Bharati’s focus was largely on education and healthcare. Today, 35,000 Bal Sanskar Kendras and coaching centres are providing education. However, he said, education alone is not sufficient, as an individual must also be able to support himself and his family.
Therefore, helping people secure sustainable livelihoods is also an important objective of Seva Bharati.
He said self-reliance has also helped reduce migration from villages by creating livelihood opportunities closer to home.
Seva Bharati Kashi Prant President Rahul Singh said the Swavalamban training programme would benefit even those at the last mile of society.
Presenting the programme outline, Akhil Bharatiya Swavalamban Pramukh Vinod Birla Ji said the training programme would include 10 sessions covering e-marketing, thematic group discussions on employment generation and experience-sharing sessions.
More than 200 trainees from 37 Prants across India are participating in the training programme. Vaibhav Shri Akhil Bharatiya Sanyojika Chandrika Tai Chauhan was also present on the dais.
Exhibition of Handmade Products
Women and men from across India who have benefited from the Swavalamban and Vaibhav Shri initiatives put up an exhibition of handmade products during the training programme.
The exhibition features three-cut stone art, a GI product; products made from indigenous cow dung; home décor items; pickles and murabba; handloom textiles; rakhis; candles; incense; and bags made from jute and cloth, among other products. The exhibition will remain open for two days.
