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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. (News18)
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 student organisation’s internship programme.
“The internship programme by ABVP 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 ABVP’s 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 through its various organisations and activities.
“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.
ABVP programmes, 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 of ABVP has been the one aiding poor pilgrims with free cataract surgeries and glasses. This is called Netra Kumbh, said another ABVP 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 procprocess, then they are assigned specific slots and tenure durations.
“Apart from other programmes, the Netra Kumbh Internship, a seven-day medical training programme, has drawn over 170 medical students from across the country, offering them hands-on experience in community healthcare,” said the RSS functionary.
Through the initiative Saksham, ABVP aims to bridge the gap between campus and community service. With support from around 216 hospitals, the programme is structured into four slots, each accommodating around 40 participants.
“The internship provides aspiring medicos with direct exposure to patient care, reinforcing the spirit of seva (service) and practical learning at the Kumbh,” added the functionary.
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Allahabad, India, India
