The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is going all out to affirm its pro-Dalit credentials, a few months after its chief Mohan Bhagwat called for a reassessment of the reservation system.

According to Indian Express, the RSS has told its volunteers across the country to adopt at least one family each from the community, intermingle with their family members, dine with them and work towards bringing them into the mainstream of society. The volunteers also have to expose the Dalit family to their families and introduce the Sangh ideology.

Sangh shakhas in urban areas are to adopt slums and interact with Dalits there. In rural areas, district units of the RSS will adopt Dalit-dominated villages.

RSS claims this programme is part of a campaign to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of its third sarsanghchalak, the late Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras.

RSS office-bearers claim Deoras strove against the practice of untouchability. They say that he worked towards emancipation of Dalits as well.

The RSS has published a speech of Deoras that he had delivered against untouchability, which they have handed over to volunteers.