Education

Social Work

Social Work as a source of study as well as profession has not flourished in India so far. Its spread was a halfhearted effort with reluctant participants and disillusioned beneficiaries. A complex social system with some cultural factors was responsible for a slow progress of social work in India. But the scenario has changed with the introduction of new economic policies and structural adjustment. Social work is no longer on the sidelines; it has today become a part of the mainstream and influences every sphere of social and national life.

Liberalisation and globalization have introduced cutthroat competition, in this profit oriented market economy, the government’s expenditure in social sector has declined. On the other hand, consumers of social work service have now become quite demanding in order to meet the increasing demand, many multinational companies and big industrial houses in the country, apart from NGOs, have appeared in the market to promote corporate social responsibility by undertaking various social welfare programmes in the filed of education, health etc.

At present, many national and international agencies are sponsoring various social welfare programmes. With increasing momentum in development, social work as a profession has come to the forefront with great job prospects. In foreign countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zeeland, Korea and Japan, social services have been widely appreciated. In India social work is gaining new ground as a profession.

Social welfare work implies helping people to tackle various types of problems that they face in their life. These could relate to community development, social justice, mental or physical disabilities, old age problems, conflict with law, problems in family and individual life, adolescent problems, frustration destitution, anti-social behaviour, disaster and many more. Living in a liberalized economy, life has become a strenuous struggle towards sustenance and problems are aplenty. This sort of situation calls for social and welfare work and its need is now of paramount importance. Social welfare workers also solve case and cause advocacy issues and lobby to change social welfare plans and policies of the government.

Academic courses

The study of Social work covers subjects like Psychology and Psychiatry, Sociology, Human Development, Family and Marriage, Law, Economics, Demography, Criminology etc. Social Work operates through methods like: case work (individual), group work and community organization, research, administration, advocacy, social action etc.

Job opportunities

To be a professional social worker, one has to complete an MA in Social Work or MSW either in the general stream or with specialization in any one of the areas such as Personnel Management and Industrial Relations, Correction and Criminology, Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, family and Child Welfare, Community Development, Any graduate from any stream can do an MA in Social Work. Many institutes and universities offer graduation in Social Work (BSW) for three years.

Social Workers with the specialization in Personnel Management and Industrial Relation can work in the personnel, HRD, IR and welfare department of the industries and commercial organizations as welfare officer, HRD officer etc. Social workers with specialization in Correction and Criminology can work in the institutions like prisons, reformatories, juvenile home and remand homes. Social workers specializing in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work can execute their duties as counselors or in psychiatric units, general hospital and cancer hospital and in the department where critically ailing persons are admitted.

Professional specializing in Community Development can work in urban and rural areas and with national and international organizations. In the field of Family and Child welfare, social workers work to improve the quality of life of women, children, the aged and infirm. These workers are employed in institutions or organizations working for the welfare of these vulnerable groups.

Researchers in Social Work may avail of fellowships from UGC, ICSSR and other government and non-government sources for pursuing doctorate and postdoctoral studies. Many institutes like TISS, Mumbai and Nirmala Niketan college of Social Work, Mumbai, have their own scholarships for the researchers.

Universities and Institutes

At present more than 250 institutes and universities are offering social work courses in India. A few of their names are given below.

Aligarh Muslim University
Aligarh-202002

Andhra University
Waltair-530003

Assam University
Silchar-788011

Bangalore University
Jana Bharati
Bangalore- 560056

Bharati Vidyapeeth
Social Science Centre
Wrandwance, Pune-411038

Bharathiar University (Six Colleges)
Coimbatore- 641018

Delhi University (Department of Social Work)
3 University Road
Delhi-110007

Devi Ahilya
Vishwavidyalaya (Indore School of Social Work)
14 Old Sehore Rd
Indore-542001

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),
New Delhi-110068

Jamia Millia Islamia
Jamia Nagar
New Delhi-110025

Karnataka University
(Three Colleges) Pavate Nagar
Dharwad- 580003

Kerala University
Thiruvananthapuram-695034

Kurukshetha University
Kurukshetra-136119
Haryana

Loyola College of Social Science
Sreekariyam
Thiruvananthapuram- 695017

Lucknow University
H-8/8 Paper Mill Colony
Lucknow- 226006

Udaipur School of Social Work
Pratap Nagar
Udaipur- 313001
Rajasthan

Tata Institute of Social Science
Deonar
Mumbai- 88

Udaypur School of Social Work
Udaypur- 313001

University of Madras (Five Colleges)
Chepauk
Chennai- 600005

Vidyasagar University
(Vidyasagar School of Social Work)
DD 18/4/1, Salt Lake City
Kolkata- 700064 W.B

Visva Bharati (Dept. of Social Work)
Sariniketan
Birbhum- 731236 W.B

Almost all these universities and institutes in the country have study facilities leading to higher degrees of M Phil and Ph D in Social Work.

Source: Helping Hands. The Statesman, Daily, New Delhi, 1 July 2007. The author is a faculty member in the department of Social Work in Assam (Central) University, Silchar. Email: jatu_d@yahoo.co.in.

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National Training Course for Visually Challenged Women

National Training Course for Visually Challenged Women organised by All Indian Confederation of Blind is a one-and-a-half-month course for visually challenged women who have completed their schooling.

Women are trained in computers, cooking, knitting and stitching, stenography and typing. They are also taught karate for self defense. There is also a talking book library for them and they are also informed about legal issues.

Reactions

Sarvathan Khan from Pakistan: “Now I don’t need to depend on others for day-to-day activities,” said.

Habhi from Chennai, said, “The training has empowered us to face the challenges of life.”

Contact address:

2721, Chowk Sangtrashan,
Pahar Ganj,
New Delhi-110055

Tel: 011-23562277 / 011-23562546 / 011-32542394
Fax: 011-23562546

Source: ‘The course has empowered us to face challenges of life’, Indian Express, New Delhi, 30-Jun-2007.

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Important dates for Admissions

  1. Delhi Institute of Heritage Research & Management (DIHRM), New Delhi: Admission Notification 2007-2008. Last date for issue and receipt of completed applications: Friday, 6 July 2007 Exam Date: Friday, 13 July 2007

  2. Central Tool Room & Training Centre, Kolkata: Admission to Diploma in Tool & Die Making. Last date for issue and receipt of completed applications: 12 July 2007, Exam date: 22 July 2007

  3. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu- B.Tech, Admission Notification 2007-2008. Last date for issue and receipt of completed applications: Monday, July 16, 2006

Source: Helping Hands. The Statesman, Daily, New Delhi, 1 July 2007.

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