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The two days National Conference on “Indian Social Work: Scope and Challenges” in Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi concluded on Thursday with a positive note to carry forward the process of Indianisation of Social Work education in India.
Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre of the Arts (IGNCA), Delhi graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Gracious Thamas, Dean, School of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was the Guest of Honour in presence of social work academicians throughout the country.
Highlighting the importance of communication skill for a social work professional, Dr. Joshi said, “Good communication skill is primary requirement for a social worker to succeed in the profession. The success of a social worker depends on his communication skill therefore the students of social work should be taught to improve their communication skill as well. There is great need to integrate social work with communication to real social workers for the society.”
Joshi who served as founder Vice Chancellor for Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Raipur had took an initiative to start Social Work Department in the university to integrate social work with mass communication for developing a holistic approach to understand the society.
He emphasised that Indian perspective of social work is unique with family and village at its core. “The days of fragmented approach in education have not yielded the required results and there is great need to adopt holistic approach in social work,” he added.
Gracious Thamas said, “The syllabous in social work courses is foreign in nature and is not suitable for the Indian requirements. He highlighted the need to change the social work curriculum in the universities and bring it close to Indian thinking.”
Thamas also enumerated the efforts of IGNOU to inculcate the Indian perspective in social work education.
G K. Arora, the principal of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College said, “There is lack of original thinking in all the disciplines at university level. The approach of holistic, integrated and scientific approach is need of the hour in university education system and there is need for reforms at all the levels,” Bishnu Mohan Dash, Convenor of the conference presented the report of the conference.
There were 25 expert speakers and 40 paper presenters involving 30 universities throughout the country. “The aim of conference was to decolonize Eurocentric social work education in India and make efforts for Indianisation. It is just a beginning of the movement for indianisation (Bharatiyakaran of social work education), said Dash.
The conference was inaugurated by Mukul Kanitkar on Wednesday who delivered Key Note Address and emphasised on Indian perspective in social work.
