Overhaul for Cong's Seva Dal, youth wing, mobile app planned

The Congress' grassroots front organisation, the Seva Dal, would be revived and strengthened, its chief organiser said today.

Lalji Desai, who was appointed as Chief Organiser of the All India Congress Seva Dal in April this year, said new measures for the group would include the setting up of a youth wing and launching of a mobile application.

He was speaking to reporters after the executive committee meeting of the Gujarat chapter of the organisation here today.

To start with, Desai said, Seva Dal workers will no longer be required to salute party leaders.

"We are bringing in some changes to revive and strengthen Seva Dal. We have now decided to do away with the our tradition of salute. This was introduced to build an army of discipline workers. But now, Seva Dal workers will not be required to salute, except on the occasion of flag hoisting or during guard of honour," Desai said.

"It came to our notice that enrolment of youngsters in Seva Dal was declining. To attract them, we have decided to set up a new Seva Dal wing called Young Brigade. This brigade will have its own dress code," said Desai.

Alleging that the BJP and the RSS were trying to weaken Constitutional institutions, Desai said that Seva Dal workers would spread the message of "true nationalism".

"We have also decided to connect all our workers through a mobile application. This will also create a data bank of our cadre across the country," he said.

He said that the Seva Dal would organise training camps in four regions during the next two months.

When asked if this exercise was aimed at countering the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Desai maintained that Seva Dal was "far superior" to the RSS in terms of reach and cadre strength.

"RSS is only good at publicity. That is why they get more attention despite doing nothing. We are not competing with them. Our objectives are different. While they are more into spreading rumours, our aim is to bust such rumours and spread truth" Desai said.