Ambedkar dedicated his life to unite Hindus: Mohan Bhagwat
Kanpur, Apr 14 (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday praised Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar for his "lifelong efforts to unite Hindus", saying despite facing hardships since childhood, he remained committed to social harmony and national development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed four-storey RSS regional office 'Keshav Bhawan' in Kanpur's Karavalo Nagar, Bhagwat said, "Babasaheb had to face severe hardships in his life. From childhood, he faced discrimination and inequality.
"Yet, throughout his life, he tried to bring the Hindu society together. His commitment to social unity and progress is an inspiration to all," he said.
In his address, Bhagwat also drew parallels between Ambedkar and RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, stating that both men devoted their lives to the upliftment of society and shared a vision of national development.
"Both Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Hedgewar worked for the Hindu society throughout their lives. They dreamed of a strong and developed India," Bhagwat said.
He called it a privilege that the inauguration of the RSS's new building coincided with Ambedkar Jayanti.
"It is our good fortune that today, on Babasaheb's birth anniversary, we are inaugurating Keshav Bhawan. When Dr Ambedkar once attended a Sangh shakha in Karad, Maharashtra, he said, 'there may be differences on certain matters, but I feel a sense of belonging here'," Bhagwat recalled.
Underscoring the responsibilities of those who identify as Hindus, the RSS chief remarked, "Those who call themselves Hindus are accountable for the country and for society. One day, they will be asked what they did for India. The Hindu society must prepare for this responsibility. The Sangh is fulfilling its duty towards the nation through its work."
Reflecting on India's historical struggles, Bhagwat said, "We got entangled in our internal differences, and foreign invaders took advantage of this. They looted us and even defeated us. The mission of the Sangh is to serve society and restore unity."
During the ceremony, Bhagwat performed a traditional ritual to inaugurate Keshav Bhawan, which is now the biggest RSS office in Uttar Pradesh. The building has a basement, a ground floor, and three upper stories. A hall inside has been named after Dr Ambedkar in recognition of his contributions.
The new complex brings all RSS functions in Kanpur under one roof for the first time. It features a large meeting hall on the ground floor, rooms for officials and guests on the upper floors, and a dormitory for 'swayamsevaks' (RSS workers) with dining arrangements on the top floor. The building has been painted using eco-friendly paint made from cow dung.
The RSS office in Kanpur was first established in 1978 in a rented property in Gandhi Nagar. Bhagwat is the first RSS sarsanghchalak to spend a night at the new Keshav Bhawan.
Elaborate security arrangements were in place during Bhagwat's five-day visit to Kanpur. Police personnel were deployed around the premises, with entry restricted to listed individuals and pass holders.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
