The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has announced plans to intensify social awareness efforts against growing substance abuse among youth, following deliberations at its Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM) meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, IANS reported on Wednesday.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

Addressing a press conference after the three-day meeting concluded on Wednesday, RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale described drug addiction as a serious social challenge and said, according to IANS, that it is being fuelled by a vast and organised international network. He said the Sangh plans to work with social organisations and institutions to create awareness against substance abuse, provide mental health counselling to affected individuals and extend support to their families.

Hosabale said the organisation had recently conducted an extensive outreach programme across 8,346 towns and 5,028 clusters, engaging 3,79,581 community leaders and representatives of social organisations, with a key objective of promoting social harmony and eradicating discrimination. The November 2-4 meeting reviewed progress on the five identified areas of social transformation under Panch Parivartan and emphasised sustained engagement with grassroots workers, IANS reported.

On the organisational front, Hosabale announced a major restructuring: the Sangh currently functions through 40 prants (provinces), but after the election of Sanghchalaks and the formation of new executive committees in November and December, the structure will be reorganised into 88 sambhags (divisions).

The RSS's own pre-meeting statement, published on rss.org, had confirmed the Indore meeting would run from November 2 to 4 with about 408 functionaries expected, and that the growing prevalence of narcotic substances would be discussed, with plans for wider public awareness campaigns with social and educational institutions, particularly to protect young people.

Source: RSS (official statement)