1 month ago
Last Updated:February 18, 2025, 09:31 IST
Hundreds of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members are flocking to the Kumbh Mela for the internship programme that covers everything from patient care and Ayurvedic awareness to digital outreach
At the ongoing Sangh camps in Prayagraj, a range of medical services, free consultations, cataract surgeries, and prescription glasses for the poor and needy are being offered. (PTI)
From assisting in performing cataract surgeries to crafting viral reels on Hindu spirituality for social media, hundreds of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members from across states are flocking to the Kumbh Mela, not just as devotees but as trainees in an RSS-backed internship programme.
“The internship programme by the Sangh and its affiliate organisations is being organised in phases as students from all corners of the country are pouring in. We will issue them certificates after completion of the programmes," Vikram Solanki, general secretary of ABVP, told News18.
“We are trying to accommodate all who registered for the internship available across organisations, which includes our pharma, medical, ophthalmology and ayurvedic wings," he added.
Internship Core: Skill And Growth
The week-long internship programme for each batch covers everything from patient care and Ayurvedic awareness to digital outreach, offering participants certificates in experience and efficiency at managing one of India’s largest religious congregations, he added.
The entire process seems to be a blend of service and skill-building, as the initiative also signals something deeper. The programme appears to be the RSS’ strategic and organisational use of the Kumbh as a boot camp for future volunteers and functionaries.
“Kumbh for us is the place where faith meets function and ideology meets dedication. It is also about grooming the next generation of nationalist volunteers," said a senior RSS functionary who has been a part of the programme at Kumbh.
The Healing Touch
At the ongoing Sangh camps in Prayagraj, a range of medical services, free consultations, cataract surgeries, and prescription glasses for the poor and needy are being offered by various Sangh-affiliated organisations.
RSS wings, including Pharma Vision, Medi Vision, and Jignasa for Ayurveda, are leading the initiatives, ensuring that both modern and traditional medicines serve thousands of pilgrims and underprivileged visitors. The most popular among all these initiatives has been the one aiding poor pilgrims with free cataract surgeries and glasses. This is called Netra Kumbh, said another RSS functionary who is working on the ground.
The camps have roped in senior doctors, ophthalmologists, pharmacists, and Ayurveda experts — most of them Sangh volunteers — to provide these services. In addition to professional medical personnel, students coming from various medical and pharma colleges are also actively participating.
They assist doctors, help with patient registration, and gain hands-on experience in their respective fields. The initiative is structured like an internship for students to go through a registration process and then they are assigned specific slots and tenure durations.
Location :Allahabad, India, India
First Published:February 18, 2025, 09:31 IST
News india From Free Cataract Surgeries To Viral Reels: Decoding RSS’ Kumbh Boot Camp For Future ‘Swayamsevaks’
