RSS begins 'gaon wapsi' in Uttarakhand
Similar programmes will be held in Mumbai, Lucknow, Moradabad, Bareilly and other parts of India. We are approaching the organisations operated by Uttarakhandi people across India for this programme.
It seems the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has launched a 'gaon wapsi' programme to exhort migrants from Uttarakhand villages to return to their roots at least once in a year.
The 'Mere Gaon Mere Teerth' (my villagemy pilgrimage) programme of RSS aims to appeal to the migrants from Uttarakhand to return to the state once in a year. Uttarakhand unit of RSS will conduct this programme under the banner of its social organisation, Uttaranchal Utthan Parishad.
Migration from the state has been a major political issue here. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has been referring to the issue of migration for quite some time. Several parties too have raised the issue over the years. The RSS has now joined the bandwagon.
Uttarakhand RSS chief Harish Rautela said, "We hosted the first meeting with Uttarakhandis living in Delhi on May 3. Similar programmes will be held in Mumbai, Lucknow, Moradabad, Bareilly and other parts of India. We are approaching the organisations operated by Uttarakhandi people across India for this programme.
By reconnecting people with their villages we will be able to save many villages from turning desolate."
The new programme comes a year after Uttarakhand RSS launched the village festival Gramya Utsav.
According to Uttarakhand statistical department, out of 15,745 villages in the state there are about 1,000 villages where hardly anyone lives. Residents of these villages have migrated to bigger towns and cities across India. According to the 2001 census, 15.22 lakh people migrated from Uttarakhand in search of jobs. Large numbers of Uttarakhandis live in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the RSS programme has attracted criticism. Communist Party of India national council member Samar Bhandari said, "RSS's move is purely political. They want to divert the attention from neglect of the villages and give it an emotional colour. The main motive is to make political gains by playing the migration card."
According to the Rashtryiya Swayamsevak Sangh, there are about 1,200 social organisations formed by people of Uttarakhand in other parts of India. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh will be approaching these organisation to conduct the 'connect to your village' programme.