Ambikapur, Nov 15: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said every person living in the country is a 'Hindu' and the DNA of all Indians is the same, and asserted there was no need for anyone to change his way of offering rituals.

Addressing an event of Swayamsevaks (Sangh volunteers) in Ambikapur, the headquarters of Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, he repeatedly highlighted unity in diversity as India's age-old feature and said Hindutva is the only idea in the world that believes in taking everyone along.

"We have been telling since 1925 (when RSS was founded) that everyone living in India is a Hindu. Those who consider India as their 'matrubhoomi' (mother land) and want to live with a culture of unity in diversity and make efforts in this direction, irrespective of whatever religion, culture, language and food habit and ideology they follow, are Hindus," Bhagwat said.

He said the ideology of Hindutva recognises diversity and believes in unity among people.

"Hindutva is the only idea in the entire world that believes in unifying diversities because it has carried such diversities together in this country for thousands of years. This is the truth and you have to speak it firmly. On the basis of it we can be united. The Sangh's work is to build individual and national character and bring unity among people," added the RSS leader.

He emphasized on respecting everyone's faith and asserted the DNA of all Indians is the same and they had common ancestors.

"Despite having diversities we all are like one We had common ancestors. Every Indian who is part of the 40,000-year old 'Akhand Bharat' has common DNA. Our ancestors had taught that everyone should stick to their faith and rituals and not try to convert others' faith. Every path leads to a common place," said Bhagwat.

The RSS leader called for respecting all religious faiths and their rituals.

"Respect everyone's faith and rituals. Accept everyone and walk on your own way. Fulfil your wishes, but don't be so selfish to not take care of wellbeing of others," he added.

Bhagwat said the entire country fought the coronavirus pandemic unitedly.

"Our culture connects us. No matter how much we fight among ourselves, we become united in times of crises. We fight together when the country faces some kind of trouble. During the coronavirus pandemic the whole country stood as one to deal with it," he maintained.

Appealing to people to visit Sangh's 'sakhas' (congregation of RSS workers), he said the 97-year-old organization's aim is to unite people and make societies influential while walking on the path of truth.

"Don't look at the Sangh from a distance as a spectator. Make your personality useful for the country and work for the welfare of the country and the society. Become swayamsevak to lead such life," Bhagwat added.

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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.