Rashtra Sevika Samiti's growth and vision for social transformation

Those who often accuse the RSS of patriarchy need to take a closer look at the organisation, functioning, and history of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

(RSSFACTS is a column that demystifies the functioning, organisational structure and ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.)

Rashtra Sevika Samiti, an all-women organisation inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), recently held its national executive meeting in Guwahati (Assam) from February 22 to 24, where it took stock of the current organisational position and discussed the way forward.

Those who often accuse the RSS of patriarchy need to take a closer look at the organisation, functioning, and history of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, as it dispels several myths about the RSS’s approach towards women's emancipation.

The Samiti was founded in 1936 at Nagpur by Lakshmi Bai Kelkar, who is popularly known as ‘Mausi ji’ in Sangh circles. While in the RSS, the chief mentor is designated as ‘Sarsanghchalak,’ which many consider to be the head of the organisation, in the Samiti, the chief mentor is designated as ‘Pramukh Sanchalika.’ This responsibility is currently held by V. Shanta Kumari.

While the Sangh volunteers are called ‘Swayamsevaks,’ the volunteers of the Samiti are known as ‘Sevikas.’

The Samiti’s current organisational expanse is impressive. It has divided the country into 12 kshetra (regions), 38 prant (provinces), and 1042 zila (districts) according to its organisational plans.

According to the latest data presented at the Guwahati meeting, the organisation’s volunteers are actively working in 834 districts. There are 4125 ‘Shakhas’ (branches) of the Sevika Samiti that are fully covering all 12 regions and 38 provinces on its organisational map. In addition to its routine functioning, the Samiti volunteers are also running 1800 social service projects across the country.

While the Samiti works autonomously, it also works in tandem with the Sangh as they have an ideological synergy. This was reflected at the recent meeting in Guwahati when the Pramukh Sanchalika, V. Shanta Kumari, categorically said in her address, “To make our nation glorious, the subjects of Panch Parivartan (self-realisation, family enlightenment, social harmony, environment, and civic duty) will have to be brought to society by incorporating them into personal life and conduct.”

It may be recalled that the Sarsanghchalak (Chief Mentor) of the RSS, Mohan Bhagwat, had given a call a couple of years ago for ‘Panch Parivartan’ to the RSS cadres. The programme includes five key points for social transformation: samajik samarasata (social harmony), kutumb prabodhan (family values), paryavaran (environmental awareness), the insistence on ‘Swa’ (selfhood), and the duties of citizens.

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the RSS, had also discussed this programme at length in its annual meeting in March 2024. The programme is the centrepiece for all the initiatives that the RSS is gearing up to take as it is set to complete its 100 years on Vijayadashami this year.

Origin and Ideology of Samiti

Lakshmi Bai Kelkar was an educationist. She had met the RSS founder, Dr. Hedgewar, and was impressed by the way the RSS was working towards uniting Hindus and contributing towards nation-building and social transformation. She wanted women also to be part of this whole process. Dr. Hedgewar encouraged her to go ahead and start an organisation. Thus, on Vijayadashami in 1936, Kelkar laid the foundation of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

Samiti volunteers participated actively in the freedom movement before independence. During the partition, it played an important role in rescuing Hindu and Sikh men and women and bringing them safely back to India. Later they also helped with the relief and rehabilitation efforts along with Sangh volunteers. In 1948, several volunteers of Samiti went to jail as they protested the ban imposed on the RSS.

In the freedom struggle for Goa in the 1950s, the Samiti volunteers participated actively. During the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars, the Samiti actively supported the government’s war efforts. During the 1975-77 Emergency, Sevikas actively participated in the anti-Emergency movement. Along with various other RSS-inspired organisations, the Samiti played a key role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Currently, one of its major focuses is on providing health, education, and other services in Northeast India.

At present, over 10,000 women attend the training camps held by the Samiti every year. The first training camp was held in 1939. In 2016, during the Samiti’s 80th-year celebrations, it organised one of the largest training camps in its history, attended by 3,000 Sevikas.

There are three key pillars of the Samiti’s ideological and functional framework: Matrutva (Universal Motherhood), Kartrutva (Service to Society), and Netrutva (Leadership). There has been a smooth transition of leadership in the organisation. From October 1936 to November 1978, Laxmibai Kelkar was the Pramukh Sanchalika. The responsibility was taken over successively by Sarawati Apte (1978-1994), Usha Tai Chaati (1994-2006), and Pramila Tai Medhe (2006-2012). Since 2012, Venkatramaiah Shanta Kumari has been the Pramukh Sanchalika of the Rashtra Sevika Samiti.

Earlier RSSFACTS columns can be read here.