Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the Mission of Rashtrotthan Sankalp?
A. It is our solemn resolve to uphold and promote dharma, and to dedicate ourselves to the establishment of a just, honest and enlightened society; a resurgent, happy, prosperous and progressive India; and universal peace and harmony.
Q. What are the objectives of Rashtrotthan Sankalp Trust?
A. The principal objectives of Rashtrotthan Sankalp are:
· To function as a not-for-profit voluntary organization to strive for a just, happy, prosperous and progressive society and India.
· To work for the overall social, economic, political and moral development of India.
· To function for the benefit of all people transcending Race, Language, Gender, Class, Caste, Creed, Religion or Region.
· To inspire and encourage the citizens to imbibe noble ideas like righteousness, universal love, toleration, and selfless service to the society and country, and virtues like courage, honesty, integrity, sacrifice, compassion and patriotism.
· To inspire, encourage and motivate citizens to resist & counter evils like greed, selfishness, injustice, exploitation, discrimination, corruption and violence.
· To inspire, encourage and motivate citizens to be active in their social and political lives and to cultivate a sound civic-sense and national consciousness.
· To educate the citizens about their rights and duties in leading an active life of dignity, contentment and in harmony with fellow citizens and nature.
· To protect and advance Ancient Indian Knowledge, and Indian Culture, Literature, Arts and Crafts.
· To inspire, encourage and motivate citizens to protect, preserve and promote the environment with all its constituents like soil, mountains, water-bodies vegetation and animal life, and to promote concepts of ecological balance and sustainable development.
· To promote the idea of universal peace and harmony.
· To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
· To promote excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.
· To provide a platform for and work in association with like-minded people and organisations having similar goals as the objectives of this Trust.
Q. Are you a political Party or a NGO? I am confused.
A. Rashtrotthan Sankalp is a concept, a philosophy, a movement, and can take any form. As of now, Rashtrotthan Sankalp Trust (RASTR) is a registered voluntary organisation; RASTR is also registered u/s 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Associates of Rashtrotthan Sankalp will form a political party at the right time in the coming years.
Q. I am unable to make out whether you’re fundamentalist, communist, socialist, capitalist, centrist, rightist, leftist or hindu-nationalist?.
A. We are not prisoners of any narrow ideology or ‘isms’… If we’re to choose any ‘ism’, it’s nationalism or if anything, we’re nationalists.
Q. Is Rashtrotthan Sankalp a sister organisation of the RSS or is it connected with RSS?
A. No. RASTR is an independent organisation with its own mission and objectives.
Q. There are so many issues / problems around. Where should I / we begin? What kind of activities should we take up first?
A. Stand against the first injustice / improper thing you come across / see / experience. Work to correct the first unrighteous practice / thing / act / person you come across either at home or outside. It may be as small as standing in queue at any ticket counter; or waiting at the red signal or making your brother return the extra 1 rupee that the vendor / conductor has given him by over sight / forgetfulness; or getting the leaking public tap fixed by the municipality. It may be as small as reforming / opposing / protesting someone throwing garbage on the road-side, parking vehicle or driving on footpath, anybody encroaching footpath/street. Change begins with small things…
Q. I want to join RASTR.. What should I do?
A. To be a formal Associate as per rules of RASTR, you'll have to fill the application form to join as Associate of RASTR and submit it to the nearest Chapter or the Central Office for registration. Contact a Chapter nearest to you or at info.rastr@gmail.com or on Cell Nos. 9916135836 and 9886024990 for guidance. To stay updated about our activities, join the Friends of RASTR discussion group @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friends_of_RASTR/.
Q. I want to join RASTR. Do you have a chapter in my town?
A. At present, we have upcoming Chapters in the following areas. Please contact at the details given. Please visit our website to check whether a Chapter is established in your town. Contact us at info.rastr@gmail.com or on Cell Nos. 9916135836 and 9886024990 for latest information on Chapters.
Bangalore:
9916135836, 9886024990; spnargund@yahoo.com; vathsa.mission@gmail.com
Belgaum:
9900979971, 9341831491; chetan_sany@yahoo.co.in
Hubli:
9916135836; spnargund@yahoo.com
Kolkata:
9903893764; m_mmfc@yahoo.co.in
Q. Do you have any membership fees?
A. Registered Associates are required to make a monthly contribution of Rs. 15 and Active Associates Rs. 30.
Q. I / We want to start a Chapter in our town / village. What should I / we do?
A. Form a group of like-minded people in your area / town; study the Fundamentals of RASTR and Rules of Organisation; and contact us for guidance.
Q. We have already formed a like-minded group in our town and want to establish a chapter of RASTR. How do we develop the chapter and its activities?
A. Study the Fundamentals of RASTR and Rules of Organisation and discuss them in group. Take necessary steps as per rules to formally establish a chapter. The following are suggested as guiding steps:
· Speak to people on the Fundamentals of RASTR, arrange for interaction sessions and presentation of Fundamentals.
· Form a high vision of development of your town / locality.
· Discuss various necessities / requirements / / issues problems in your town / city / village and particularly in your locality. Example areas: garbage management, traffic management, roads, foot paths, parks, water supply, public transport, bus stands, education, public health, environment, lakes, forests, buildings of historic and cultural importance, etc.
· List the issues / requirements / problems and prioritise them in order of most urgent / important on top and the remaining down in the order of priority.
· Take up resolution of the issues / matters so listed in a planned way with participation of the people. · Discuss topics of relevance to increase knowledge and form collective opinion. Example topics: delays in justice system, corruption and methods / laws to tackle / fight it, society’s responsibility in proliferation of corruption, WTO, Patents, droughts, village economy and self-sustenance, migration to cities, population explosion, traffic management, environmental impact of human negligence / excesses, cleanliness in public places, education, preservation of cultural heritage, foreign policy, security, energy, water, health, etc.
· Outcome of all discussions suggested above should not only be knowledge gaining and opinion formation but also actionable points or action in the form of drawing up and executing activities / programmes to implement the ideas / opinion arising out of the discussions. · Organise citizens’ forums on matters and mobilise opinion and channelise the force so generated in achieving micro and macro goals on ground by getting things done.

Stay in constant touch with us for guidance and support.

Q. I / we stay abroad. But I / We want do something. How do we go about it?
A. You can help the movement in a great way by spreading the word among Indians in your area. Form a group of like-minded people in your area / town; study the Fundamentals of RASTR and Rules of Organisation; and even initiate a overseas Chapter in that Country / area. Associates abroad can lend their specialised skills to the movement, collect funds for activities in India, adopt projects in India propagate RASTR on net or help us in information management, website etc. Contact us for
guidance.
Q. I am student. Can I join RASTR?
A. Yes you can and you should, provided you are 18 years old and satisfy other eligibility conditions as laid down in the Rules of Organisation of RASTR.
Q. I am a government employee. Can I join RASTR?
A. Yes you can and you should. RASTR is a registered voluntary organisation and all citizens are free to join on fulfilment of the eligibility conditions as laid down in the Rules of Organisation of RASTR.
Q. How many fulltime associates are there at present?
A. We firmly believe that a good number of committed fulltime associates are required for the movement to succeed. All our core associates are working with the intention to make themselves fulltime at the earliest. While our core associates put almost all their time, besides their professional commitments, in RASTR work, we do not have fulltime associates as of now.
Q. I want to join as a fulltime associate. What should I do? Do you provide any financial assistance?
A. You’re most welcome. First join us as an Associate, participate actively in the movement, take lead and gradually progress. You ought to gain the status of Active Associate to be considered for financial assistance. Discuss with us for details.
Q. Shall we contest in the upcoming elections? / Why don’t we contest in the upcoming elections?
A. Political power is essential to bring about the changes that we envision. However, plunging into electoral politics without appropriate ground work is futile. We’ll enter electoral politics at an appropriate time in the near future. Please read Fundamentals of RASTR and discuss with us for details.
Q. I am a very small person to bring a change you’re talking of. Do you think the common people have any power to change the state of affairs?
A. You do your bit. Those who can do more or can take lead will do more and take lead. Revolution begins with small things and with you… Change is possible with right thinking and committed action.
Q. I hear so much about this RTI and Lokayukta in fighting corruption. Do you have any information on these? Are you using them?
A. We have good amount of information on the use of RTI and Lokayukta. We have first hand experience in using these tools at all levels. Our associates have used them in many cases in exposing corruption and inefficiency in public affairs and also to bring about development works. Join us and start using them.
Q. You talk about resisting and confronting evil, corruption, etc. But these forces are criminals, goons, gundas, and can go to any extent and can even kill me if I try to oppose them.
A. The world cannot be changed in one day or by one person alone. The rot created (or the cancer that has spread) for so many years / decades cannot be cleaned in one day. Nor can anyone gain the courage and strength to face and defeat these evil forces alone and in one day or in one instance. Every person has to do his bit. And, all good people must come together to defeat these evil tendencies and forces. Unity has great strength. So begin with resisting evil / wrong / injustice / exploitation in small or whatever manner / amount you can. This is the first and the most important step. Then keep on gaining strength and trouble the evil forces constantly. In the meanwhile, increase your
knowledge and power by constant study and organising people for the cause. A day will come when you and your group / organisation would have grown strong enough or even stronger than the evil forces you’re facing and that day you’ll fight all out to destroy the unrighteous, the evil and the wicked and to establish righteousness firmly.
Q. What legal tools are available to me / us in our fight against corruption / unrighteousness?
A. The Constitution of India; various laws like the RTI, the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lokayukta Act, etc.; various watch bodies like CVC, CBI, police, lokayukta, consumer courts / forums, ombudsman, regulatory authorities like Banking, SEBI, TRAI, IRDA, state Electricity Regulatory Authorities, etc.; the Legal Services Authority; and tools like PIL, etc.
Q. I am interested to be associated with RASTR, but do not have so much time to attend meetings regularly, participate in all activities, etc. What can I do?
A. You can lend your specialised skills to the movement, collect funds for, adopt projects, propagate RASTR on net or help us in information management, website management, animation, poster / leaflet design, join magazine team, write articles, help in translations, or do other things from your place. Contact us for guidance.
Q. How can I be sure that the money or service I contribute to RASTR is utilised properly and there’re no scams as they are ordinary these days?
A. RASTR is founded on the values of honesty and integrity. You can stay 100% assured that we use all contributions for public welfare in the best possible way. We maintain transparency in all our processes, to the extent possible. Our accounts are available to the public for inspection. We submit yearly accounts to the Income Tax authorities. Summary of Quarterly Statements are published on our website.
Q. I agree with the mission of RASTR. But I am not a kind of person, who is comfortable in political activities. I am more interested in social or development work. What can I do?
A. There cannot be any sharp division of activities as social or political. Both are interrelated. Please read Fundamentals of RASTR for explanation. There’s is scope for all kind of work in the movement. Please discuss with us to get going.
Q. I want to do something for the country / society. But I don’t know how to go about it, exactly and don’t have much knowledge and experience in public affairs. Do you have any training programmes for people like me?
A. We are devising orientation programmes for citizens willing to take up responsibility in public life, but who are constrained by lack of knowledge / information, exposure and experience in public affairs. Most of the experience comes through dedicated participation in activities and organisation building. Please discuss with us for details.
Q. I can do things; I also understand the issues but probably I don’t have leadership skills / qualities? How do I go ahead? Do you have any training programmes for people like me?
A. We are devising orientation programmes for citizens willing to take up responsibility in public life, but who are constrained by lack of knowledge / information, exposure and experience in public affairs. Most of the experience comes through dedicated participation in activities and organisation building. Please discuss with us for details.
Q. The goals you have set are really very admirable. But do you think they are practically achievable?
A. Yes, the goals we have set are very much achievable. All that is required is proper education of the citizens about the need for their active participation in public affairs, rapid propagation of righteousness in all spheres of life and building of right leadership. All these are achievable gradually with spirited participation of more and more citizens. Our successful freedom struggle is the best example to demonstrate that such high goals are indeed achievable.