AHMEDABAD: An RSS-affiliated organization has embarked on a nationwide survey with a view to know what people think about the present education system in the country.

The survey is part of a larger project envisaged by RSS "to bring reforms into the Indian education system and to suggest ways to Indianize the education".

Gujarat-based Punarutthan Vidyapeeth, which is a research-oriented body, claims to be an independent institution and taking "only guidance" from Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

It has launched the survey based on which it will prepare a report.

Chancellor of the Vidyapeeth Indumati Katdare said, several questionnaires have been prepared for participants divided into ten different categories, including housewives, parents, youngsters, teachers, students and elected representatives, among others.

"Before providing a solution to a problem, we first need to have a real picture about what is going on in the society. We don't want to do it as per our own imagination. Therefore, we have decided to conduct a survey about what people think about the present education system," Katdare told PTI.

"The survey is part of the larger project envisaged by RSS to bring reforms into the Indian education system and to suggest ways to Indianise the education," she said.

"After our deliberations at the RSS head office in Nagpur recently, we have decided to take up this survey, having simple questions for every category. We want every citizen's involvement in this process. We want people's consensus on this issue," Katdare added.

Till now, volunteers have already distributed questionnaire forms to more than 5,000 respondents across various categories in the state. These forms will be collected back by the end of this year.

Similar exercises have been conducted in various other parts of country, Katdare said.

Each form has around ten questions in it. Some of the questions asked to housewives are: Is the current education system helpful in bringing unity among family members? Will you allow your daughter to be career-oriented? Is higher education important for a woman to be good housewife?

Some of the questions posed to parents are: How much time your children spend watching TV? Do you want your children to study in English medium or mother tongue?

Katdare said the survey is an independent project and has no RSS influence on it.

"I condemn those who allege that we are doing it to impose RSS agenda in education. This is injustice to us and our work. If we all are Indians, then why shy away from inculcating Indian values in education? We are asking people what they want, hence, there is no question of doing what only we want," she clarified.

According to her, the findings of the survey will be released in five volumes after two years.

"The findings of the survey will be released in five volumes on Gurupurnima in 2017. It will be titled as Bharatiya Shikshan Granthmala. These findings will also be used to make reference material which can be used by students and education institutes," Katdare said.

