The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), a labour organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has officially opened its first divisional office in the Kashmir Valley. The new facility is situated in Barsu village, nestled at the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range. The location is strategically positioned approximately five kilometres from the Lethpora highway, a significant thoroughfare in the Pulwama district.
Sameer Khuchay, the 36-year-old in-charge of the BMS Kashmir division, confirmed the inauguration of the office, which took place this past Sunday. According to Khuchay, the establishment of this permanent divisional office represents a major milestone for the organisation, which had previously operated from a smaller, rented space located in Shiv Pora, Srinagar. He noted that the decision to relocate and establish a formal division in Pulwama was driven by the fact that the majority of the labour unions affiliated with the BMS are based in south Kashmir.
Reflecting on the organisation's growth in the region, Khuchay stated that the BMS has been actively working across Kashmir since 2020, following the abrogation of Article 370. Currently, the organisation claims to have 20 registered labour unions affiliated with it throughout the region. The move to a dedicated divisional office is intended to centralise their operations and better serve the needs of these local members.
Addressing the challenges the organisation has faced in the valley, Khuchay acknowledged that there were significant misconceptions regarding the RSS among the local populace when they first began their outreach. However, he maintained that through consistent engagement over the past few years, the organisation has been able to reshape these perceptions. He asserted that he has succeeded in convincing the local community that the organisation is focused on labour welfare and the needs of the people, rather than being anti-Muslim as some had previously feared.
Khuchay further clarified the relationship between the BMS and its parent ideology, noting that while their affiliates are well aware that the body follows RSS ideology, they also understand that the BMS functions independently. He stated that the members trust the organisation because they believe the union delivers genuine support and addresses the specific demands of the labour force without acting as a political tool. The local members, he noted, value the organisation's commitment to their specific labour-related interests.
This development comes as the organisation seeks to solidify its presence in the region nearly five years after its expansion efforts began in the wake of the political changes of 2020. The opening of the office in the foothills of the Zabarwan range, known for its proximity to historically sensitive areas like the site of the February 2019 Pulwama attack, signals a significant expansion of the organisation's footprint in south Kashmir.
As the BMS continues to integrate its operations into the fabric of the region's labour sector, the focus remains on sustaining the growth of its affiliated unions. With the new infrastructure in place in Pulwama, the organisation aims to continue its engagement with local labourers, aiming to bridge the gap between their stated pro-labour agenda and the broader public discourse in the Kashmir Valley.
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