Matribhumi Samachar English
The year 2025 stood as a testament to the unwavering spirit of humanitarianism and national service embodied by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sewa Bharti. Across the length and breadth of the country – from the rugged terrains of the Himalayas to the coastal plains and dense urban hubs – the organisations remained at the forefront of disaster response. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Sewa Parmo Dharma’, thousands of dedicated Swayamsevaks acted as the first responders in the face of unprecedented natural calamities, including devastating floods, cloudbursts, and accidents. Their presence ensured that the gap between administrative reach and the immediate needs of the common man was bridged with speed, compassion, and structural efficiency.
In the year 2025, when natural calamities struck the sacred landscapes of Punjab, Uttarakhand, J&K, and Himachal Pradesh, the Swayamsevaks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sewa Bharti were the first to answer the call of the motherland. Demonstrating the true spirit of Sewa Parmo Dharma (Service is the Highest Virtue), the organisation launched extensive relief and rescue operations, standing as a pillar of strength for those in distress.
Beyond disaster management, the organisation played a monumental role in the success of Mahakumbh 2025. To ensure the well-being of millions of devotees, the RSS and Sewa Bharti established a massive infrastructure of compassion, providing:
* Annakshetras: Round-the-clock nutritious meals (Bhojan).
* Chikitsa Kendras: Dedicated medical camps and emergency healthcare services.
* Ashray: Safe and organised shelters for pilgrims coming from across the globe.
This report meticulously documents 27 major service initiatives undertaken by the RSS and Sewa Bharti in 2025. It highlights the unwavering commitment of the Swayamsevaks who, driven by nationalistic fervor, continue to serve society without any expectation, reinforcing the social fabric of the nation during its most challenging times.
Netra Kumbh: Bringing vision to millions at Mahakumbh
During the magnificent Mahakumbh 2025, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in collaboration with its affiliate, Saksham Foundation, organised an unprecedented free eye care camp titled “Netra Kumbh.” This massive medical initiative operated from January 12 to February 26, 2025, in Prayagraj. It provided millions of pilgrims with essential services, including free eye examinations, spectacles, and medicines. Most notably, the camp offered specialized surgeries for serious conditions like cataracts, ensuring that devotees from all walks of life could witness the spiritual grandeur of the Kumbh with clear vision.
The Backbone of Mahakumbh: Deployment of 16,000 volunteers
To ensure the smooth conduct of the world’s largest gathering, the RSS mobilized a dedicated force of 16,000 volunteers in Prayagraj by January 28, 2025. These Swayamsevaks acted as the primary support system for the administration and pilgrims alike. They were deeply involved in complex traffic management, sanitation drives, and healthcare assistance. From distributing meals to organizing shelter for stranded travelers, these volunteers worked tirelessly on the ground to maintain safety and order amidst the massive influx of devotees.
Sewa Bharti’s Medical support and relief mission
On February 15, 2025, the Dehra unit of Sewa Bharti dispatched a specialised team of volunteers and essential relief materials to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh. To safeguard the health of the pilgrims, the organization provided comprehensive medical kits containing vital medicines, glucose, masks, and other emergency supplies. The team remained stationed at the fairground, offering immediate medical aid and logistical support to anyone in need, further strengthening the healthcare infrastructure of the holy festival.
Empowering Vanvasi communities with mobile medical units
In a significant step toward inclusive healthcare, Sewa Bharti Tamil Nadu launched its sixth Free Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in the Hogenakkal region of Dharmapuri on March 6, 2025. This project, supported by Vistara Finance and the Samarappaka Seva Trust, was specifically designed to reach remote vanvasi communities who lack access to modern hospitals. The mobile unit provides doorstep medical consultations and free medicines, ensuring that geographical barriers do not prevent the underprivileged from receiving quality healthcare.
RSS relief efforts following the ramban disaster
When a severe natural calamity involving floods and landslides struck the Ramban district of J&k, RSS volunteers were among the first responders on April 21, 2025. In the face of treacherous terrain and dangerous conditions, the Swayamsevaks established relief camps to provide victims with food, clean drinking water, emergency medicines, and temporary shelter. Beyond physical aid, the volunteers stayed on the ground to provide emotional support to the affected families, standing shoulder to shoulder with the local community to help them recover from the devastation.
Here is the continued report on the humanitarian and relief efforts of the RSS and Sewa Bharti, presented in a clear and chronological narrative format.
Immediate response to the Ahmedabad air disaster
Following the tragic crash of Air India flight 171 in the densely populated Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, RSS Swayamsevaks launched a massive relief operation within thirty minutes of the accident. Volunteers stationed themselves at the crash site and the Civil Hospital in Karnavati to provide multi-dimensional support. They assisted the administration in rescue operations, managed traffic to ensure ambulances could pass, and served in the post-mortem rooms. Beyond logistics, the Swayamsevaks helped in DNA sample collection, organised blood donation drives, and provided food and refreshments to over 2,000 people, including victims’ families and rescue workers, with support from the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple.
Disaster relief mission in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
In response to the devastation caused by heavy rains and landslides in Mandi, the RSS Chauki Manyar unit of Una district mobilized a significant relief mission through Sewa Bharti on July 8, 2025. Volunteers collected essential items like food, clothing, blankets, and medicines from across the region to support families facing extreme hardship. The mission expanded on July 13, 2025, when two additional vehicles filled with rations, mattresses, bedding, and daily necessities were dispatched to the affected areas in Mandi, ensuring that the most vulnerable families received the resources needed to survive the crisis.
Feeding the flood-affected in Guna, Madhya Pradesh
As incessant rains paralyzed life in Guna on July 30, 2025, the Sewa department of the RSS and Sewa Bharti worked alongside the local administration to provide immediate sustenance to the displaced. They established two major community kitchens: the Annapurna Bhojnalaya at the hospital premises and a center at the Senior Citizen Service Home in Kent. On the first day alone, over 800 people were served hot, nutritious meals at these centers, while volunteers ventured into flooded settlements to distribute more than 300 food packets to those unable to reach the kitchens. The organisation maintained a 10-hour daily service to ensure no one in the district went hungry during the floods.
Dholpur Flood Relief: Reaching remote villages
When the Chambal River overflowed in Dholpur, Rajasthan, on July 31, 2025, RSS volunteers played a pivotal role in reaching marooned villages. Using their personal resources and time, the workers navigated difficult conditions to distribute food packets and essential supplies to families cut off by the rising waters. In addition to providing food, the Swayamsevaks actively assisted villagers in moving their livestock and household belongings to higher, safer ground, providing a crucial safety net for the rural community during the peak of the flood.
Assistance to flood victims in Sikrodi, Auraiya
On August 4, 2025, RSS volunteers from Auraiya city reached the flood-hit village of Sikrodi to provide direct aid to families struggling with the overflow of local water bodies. Recognizing the immediate need for food security, the Swayamsevaks distributed dry rations and other essential food items. By reaching out to the victims at their doorstep, the volunteers ensured that aid reached the most affected residents who were finding it difficult to access markets or government distribution points.
Relief efforts after the cloudburst in Dharali, Uttarkashi
Following a catastrophic cloudburst in Dharali village on August 5, 2025, RSS volunteers immediately engaged in rescue and assessment activities. The “Jal Pralay” (water deluge) caused widespread damage, prompting the volunteers to distribute ration kits, medicines, and blankets to the grieving families. Working in coordination with the district administration, the Swayamsevaks also conducted an on-ground survey of the losses to help streamline future government aid, ensuring that the relief reached the truly needy in the high-altitude terrain of Uttarakhand.
Navigating floods in Prayagraj via boats
Continuous rainfall led to severe flooding in the Karchhana area of Prayagraj on August 5, 2025, submerging several villages, including Panasa, Dehli, and Laketahaghat. RSS and Sewa Bharti volunteers launched a specialized water-borne relief operation, utilizing boats to reach houses surrounded by water. They delivered milk, cooked food packets, and medical supplies directly to trapped villagers. This proactive approach ensured that families who were unwilling or unable to leave their homes still had access to life-saving supplies during the emergency.
Emergency services in the remote Chashoti village of Kishtwar
A major cloudburst in the Chashoti village of J&K on August 14, 2025, left many families homeless and stranded. Sewa Bharti units from Doda and Kishtwar responded by providing a comprehensive support system that included ambulance services for the injured and the distribution of hot meals. Understanding the challenges of the mountainous region, the organisation also arranged for temporary housing and essential services to help the local population cope with the sudden loss of infrastructure and property.
Self-funded ration distribution in Kaimganj
In a unique display of grassroots initiative, RSS volunteers in Kaimganj, Uttar Pradesh, personally pooled their funds to create comprehensive food kits for flood victims on August 19, 2025. These kits were thoughtfully packed with flour, rice, spices, oil, potatoes, and pulses to provide a complete nutritional solution for families. The volunteers personally managed the logistics to transport these kits to the village of Singanpur, ensuring that their self-funded contribution directly benefited the most distressed residents of the flood-prone area.
Massive logistics operation in Tharali, Chamoli
Following severe flooding in the Tharali region of Chamoli district, the RSS-affiliated “Uttaranchal Daivi Apada Peedit Sahayata Samiti” dispatched two large trucks filled with relief materials on August 22, 2025. These trucks carried hundreds of ration kits, medicines, plastic sheets for temporary roofing, and warm blankets to the high-altitude regions of Tharali, Dharali, and Harsil. By sending bulk supplies, including new bedsheets and clothing, the organisation aimed to provide long-term comfort to the families who had lost their household goods to the mountain torrents.
Joint rescue operations following the cloudburst in Rudraprayag
On August 28, 2025, a devastating cloudburst completely destroyed Chengarh village and caused massive destruction in the Dungar and Badeth areas of Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. RSS Swayamsevaks immediately joined forces with the NDRF, SDRF, and local district teams to conduct high-stakes rescue operations. The volunteers worked tirelessly on the front lines to navigate the debris, ensuring that affected families received immediate access to food, clean drinking water, and emergency medical assistance during the initial hours of the disaster.
Proactive relief for flood victims in Maharashtra
Heavy monsoon rains caused severe flooding across the Beed, Latur, and Nanded districts of Maharashtra on August 31, 2025, disrupting thousands of lives. In response, RSS Swayamsevaks launched a widespread relief mission to assist those stranded by the rising waters. The volunteers focused on the grassroots distribution of essential supplies, providing cooked meals, potable water, and daily necessities to ensure that the displaced population remained supported until the floodwaters receded.
Supporting over a thousand villages during the Punjab floods
The catastrophic floods of August 2025 submerged more than a thousand villages across Punjab, creating a state-wide humanitarian crisis. From August 30 through September 2025, Sewa Bharti and RSS volunteers maintained a continuous presence in the most affected regions. Their comprehensive relief campaign included the distribution of dry rations, the establishment of temporary medical camps to prevent waterborne diseases, and the consistent supply of food and water to provide a vital lifeline for the rural population.
RSS assistance in the eroding Khadar region of Meerut
The fury of the Ganga River caused massive land erosion in the Meerut district on September 2, 2025, swallowing thousands of acres of farmland in villages like Mirpur, Sadhu Nangal. Under the leadership of Maharaj Khem Giri, RSS Swayamsevaks initiated a targeted relief campaign for the displaced farming families. The volunteers distributed comprehensive food kits and essential relief materials to twenty-five of the most severely affected families, providing immediate sustenance to those who had lost their livelihoods to the river’s erosion.
Restoring homes and hope in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Following heavy flooding in the Lohandiguda block of Chhattisgarh on September 4, 2025, RSS Swayamsevaks from the Bastar unit arrived in Mandar village to lead restoration efforts. The volunteers physically removed heavy debris from damaged rooms and the local community hall, making these structures habitable once again for the villagers. This hands-on assistance not only provided physical relief but also gave the villagers the emotional strength and courage to return to their homes and restart their lives.
Community-led breakfast service for Yamuna Khadar residents
As the Yamuna River reached dangerous levels in Delhi on September 4, 2025, residents in the low-lying Khadar areas faced severe shortages of clean water and food. A dedicated team of 25 Swayamsevaks from the Mayur Vihar district collaborated with local citizens to serve breakfast to approximately 500 to 700 people every morning. Additionally, a medical camp was organised in partnership with Bharat Vikas Parishad to treat residents suffering from ailments caused by contaminated floodwaters.
Healthcare and food services in Kangra and Kinnaur
Sewa Bharti and RSS volunteers became a primary pillar of support for flood victims in Himachal Pradesh on September 5, 2025. In the Indora region of Kangra, the teams organied health checkups and distributed medicines to 350 families. Simultaneously, in Tapri, Kinnaur, Sewa Bharti volunteers established a continuous community kitchen (Bhandara) to provide hot meals for 250 stranded individuals, ensuring that no traveler or local resident went hungry due to the road blockages caused by the rains.
Relief material distribution near Delhi’s iconic landmarks
On September 10, 2025, Sewa Bharti intensified its relief efforts in Delhi’s flood-hit areas near the Mayur Vihar Metro Station and the Signature Bridge. The teams distributed freshly cooked meals and essential kits to families whose homes were submerged by the Yamuna. These kits included dry rations, drinking water, biscuits, soap, and sanitary products, addressing the immediate hygiene and nutritional needs of the displaced urban population.
Responding to the fury of the Rispana River in Dehradun
When the Rispana River overflowed on September 16, 2025, it caused widespread flooding in the settlements of Sahastradhara, Garhi Camp, and the IT Park area of Dehradun. RSS Swayamsevaks, in collaboration with the Sarvatra Sewa Foundation and Devbhoomi Sanstha, launched a massive rescue and relief operation in the Panchpuri and Suraj Basti neighborhoods. The volunteers distributed food packets and essential supplies, working through damaged roads and submerged areas like the Tapkeshwar Temple to reach every affected citizen.
Integrated disaster response in Manipur
From September 14 to 17, 2025, Manipur faced devastating floods that displaced numerous communities. RSS Manipur, the Manipur Sewa Samiti, and Sewa Bharti Manipur coordinated a swift response, focusing on the hardest-hit areas in Thoubal. Volunteers distributed drinking water, rice, clothing, and other essential commodities to 300 families. The organization also worked closely with local clubs and activists to synchronize relief efforts, ensuring that aid reached even the most remote parts of the state.
Rescue and relief operations across North Bengal
Relentless torrential rains in October 2025 disrupted life across the districts of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Darjeeling. RSS Swayamsevaks quickly mobilized to reach the submerged Terai region, delivering food, blankets, and medicines. In the low-lying areas, volunteers collaborated with local Civil Defense forces to navigate floodwaters using boats, successfully evacuating elderly citizens, children, and women to safer locations and providing them with the necessary medical and nutritional care.
Braving Cyclone Montha to save lives in Warangal
On October 31, 2025, the severe cyclonic storm “Montha” triggered massive rainfall across Telangana, submerging villages and towns in Warangal. Disregarding personal safety, RSS Swayamsevaks entered chest-deep floodwaters to rescue stranded residents. The volunteers focused their efforts on evacuating children and the elderly from waterlogged houses, moving them to secure relief centers while ensuring they were provided with immediate food and blankets to recover from the trauma of the storm.
The relief efforts of 2025 illustrate that the strength of a nation lies in the resilience of its people and the dedication of its volunteers. By providing everything from life-saving medical surgeries and boat-led rescues to simple hot meals and debris clearance, the RSS and Sewa Bharti showcased a comprehensive model of social service. These initiatives went beyond mere material aid; they restored hope and dignity to millions of affected citizens. As the report indicates, the silent and tireless work of these volunteers continues to fortify the social fabric of India, proving that in times of crisis, the spirit of unity and selfless service remains the country’s most potent shield.
Credit : Organiser Weekly
