“SOCIAL work is eternal. Remembrance of a great man’s legacy should be expressed through action and purposeful effort,” said Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), at a programme held at Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra, Deolapar, on Wednesday. The programme, observing Ashok Singhal’s birth centenary celebrations, was attended by chief guests Alok Kumar, Kendriya Adhyaksh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (V HP); Maya Iwnate, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament; Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Agriculture, Finance and Planning, Relief and Rehabilitation, Law and Justice, and Labour; Dinesh Chandra, Kendriya Go Seva Pramukh,VHP; Shekhar Mundada, President, Maharashtra State Go Seva Aayog; Babusingh Rathod, Mahant Pithadhish, Pohradevi Math; Omprakash Shete, President, Ayushman Bharat Mission Maharashtra State Committee; and Padmesh Gupta, President, Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra.

 

Dr Bhagwat, while remembering Ashok Singhal, said that his life was dedicated to the nation and urged people to turn his remembrance into meaningful efforts by pursuing their resolves with dedication. He also said go-seva should connect with agriculture, energy, organic manure and the rural economy. The cow, he said, was not merely a matter of faith but was closely linked to rural life, agriculture and the environment. Cattle protection, he stressed, should go beyond shelter and give cattle a useful place in society. During the programme, five projects were inaugurated by Dr Bhagwat: which include an organic manure unit with CSR support from R C Plasto; an IVF unit for breed improvement and conservation of indigenous cattle; a bull-driven electricity generation unit with support from Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur; and the Rani Durgavati Gramin Haat. The Panchagavya Cancer Wellness Centre and Govidyapeeth were announced as upcoming projects. The bulldriven project aims to make Nandi useful by operating flour mills, oil presses and other equipment through bull power, creating an economic basis for cattle protection. Padmesh Gupta spoke about the centre’s 30-year journey and its efforts to integrate cow service, protection, cow-based agriculture and rural development with science.

 

He highlighted Panchagavya research, cowbased products and initiatives across 141 tribal villages under ‘Gaunomics’. Shekhar Mundada mentioned 1,010 gaushalas had been registered and are being managed in the State. He called for a ‘Brown Revolution’ based on cow dung and cow-based products to promote indigenous cattle. He said the ‘Go-10’ and gobar policy was being finalised and a single ‘Go10’ brand of cow products would be promoted across Maharashtra. The Aayog also gave a certificate of recognition to the centre for promoting ‘Cow Tourism’ during the programme. Ashish Jaiswal said self-help groups were being encouraged to undertake fodder production and that 5.5 lakh hectares of Customary Forest Resource (CFR) land would be utilised. He also informed Rs 1 lakh help to every self-help group involved.

 

Alok Kumar recalled Singhal’s contribution to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and his efforts to instil courage and determination in Hindu society. Other dignitaries present were Suresh Sharma, Managing Director, Baidyanath, who donated the building for the Panchagavya Bhavan, and Rajendra Purohit, Managing Director, ‘The Hitavada’, who made a significant contribution to the project. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of Revenue and Guardian Minister of Nagpur District, arrived early, announced Rs 25 crore for the project and left. Dr Manali Kshirsagar, ViceChancellor, RTMNU and Dr Rajesh Pandey,Vice-Chancellor, Ramdeobaba University, were also present among others. Shraddha Bharadwaj compered the programme, while Sudhir Dive proposed the vote a thanks.