24th to 26th February 2011
On the occasion of golden jubilee of CSRD-ISWR, the Institute conceived and executed a very useful academic exercise in the form of a three day-long National Seminar on a relevant, but often neglected theme of HIV and rural development. This paper is a summary report of the important events that were held during the 8th National Seminar on Social Work Response to HIV on the theme of Issues and Challenges in the Wake of Rural Development jointly organized by Centre for Studies in Rural Development – Institute of Social Work and Research (CSRD-ISWR), Ahmednagar and School of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi was held on 24th to 26th February 2011 at CSRD-ISWR, Ahmednagar. In order to hold the Seminar successfully, CSRD-ISWR received cooperation and support from local co-hosts, namely, WOTR, Snehalaya, Shramasafalya Education Society’s PJN College of Social Work Amalner, CASA, Bosco Grameen Vikas Kendra, Padmashri Dr Vikhe Patil Medical Foundation, APFRO and St. Vincent De Paul House, Kedgaon Altogether 395 social work professionals, teachers, students and social work practitioners participated as registered participants in the seminar. The National Seminar had 39 paper presentations on 9 sub themes distributed in to 10 technical sessions excluding the inaugural and valedictory sessions.
Inaugural Function
At 4:30 PM on 24th February 2011, Inaugural Function began with prayer song and Institute Song presented by the students of CSRD. Welcome Address was delivered by Prof. Gracious Thomas, Director, School of Social Work, IGNOU and founder of National Seminar on Social Work Response to HIV. While welcoming the participants, he briefly described the programmes of IGNOU and the contribution of IGNOU to social work education and social work literature. The role of social worker in modern context was elucidated by means of simple stories.
Introduction to the National Seminar was given by Dr. Suresh Pathare, Director, CSRD-ISWR. He introduced the themes of the seminar, the implications of the epidemic of HIV as emerging issues and challenges in the wake of rural development. He pointed out the contribution of CSRD to the rural development sector during the past 50 years of its existence and relevance of holding the National seminar in the right time of its golden jubilee year.
It followed the felicitation of Co-hosts, WOTR, Snehalaya, Shramasafalya Education Society’s PJN College of Social Work Amalner, CASA, Bosco Grameen Vikas Kendra, Padmashri Dr Vikhe Patil Medical Foundation, APFRO and St. Vincent De Paul House, Kedgaon. Thereafter, the release of IGNOU Books in Hindi was done by Prof. SB Kolte, Director General, IMS. While releasing the IGNOU social work literature in Hindi, Dr. Mahipal, IGNOU, Delhi briefed the IGNOU contribution in the production and dissemination of Social work literature, audio video production, Radio and TV broadcasting at National and International levels.
Thereupon, the release of New Horizons in University Education, CSRD Journal of social work was undertaken by Prof. Gracious Thomas. On the occasion of the release of the fourth issue of New Horizons in University Education, Prof. SK Hulbe, the first editor of the journal almost 5 decades ago, reminded the audience about the challenges in rural development sector addressed by the previous issues in the year 1963.
Felicitation messages were given by Prof. SB Kolte, Director General, IMS, Shri Popat Rao Pawar, the Sarpanch of Hiware Bazar, the model village, and Shri Gopinath Menon, former Maharashtra Chief, UNICEF. Prof. SB Kolte, Director General, IMS, in his felicitation, reminded the social work professionals about the type of commitment and dedication required in the wake of rural development. He has both entertained as well as enlightened the audience by his story of a consultant. Shri. Popat Rao Pawar, the Sarpanch of the Sarpancha, as rightly addressed by Prof. KK Kanojia, narrated the story of Hiware Bazar, the model village. He has explained how the people’s participation could be harnessed through a process of dialogue and social audit. He has made clear the need of the emergence of responsible panchayats for the evolution of model villages. Shri. Gopinath Menon, former Maharashtra Chief, UNICEF, brought into the notice of the seminar participants the dichotomy of development in India. India having the largest number of qualified human resources and huge expenditure on various development plans lag much behind in human development indices. The picture of malnutrition, infant and child mortality and gender violence was depicted by presenting suitable case studies. The scope of micro planing in dealing with several rural development issues was emphasized by Shri. Gopi.
Presidential Address was given by Dr Mahipal Singh, Asst Commissioner, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi. He highlighted the responsibility of social work professionals in the evaluation, implementation and monitoring of various govt. schemes in the sector of rural development He also reminded us of the kind of assistance we could provide to the policy makers in terms of deliberations and resolutions evolved from the National Seminar. At the end vote of Thanks was delivered by Mrs. Snehal Divekar.
Sessions and Paper Presentations
There were 9 technical sessions excluding inaugural and valedictory sessions. Altogether 39 research papers were presented during these 9 technical sessions. Apart from these, there were two special input sessions during which the eminent social workers of Maharashtra – Padmashri Anna Hazare and Padmashri Shri Rajender Singh the Ramon Magsasay Award winner addressed the National seminar. Besides these input sessions, there were sessions for cultural shows and students’ competitions.
The seminar schedule along with the papers presented and the details of the chairpersons of various sessions are given below.
| 24.02.2011 | Day One |
| 11.00-04.00 | Poster competition |
| 04.30-06.00 | Inaugural Session |
| 06.30-08.30 | Maharashtra Darshan, the cultural show |
| 25.02.2011 | Day 2 / Session No. / Type / Theme / Chair / Presenters | Topic of the paper presentation |
| 08.55-11.00 | Session 1 Plenary | |
| Theme | Rural Development: Issues and Challenges | |
| Chair | Prof. Sharad Kolte | |
| 1 | M. Kunjumon | Impact of Globalisation on Rural Development |
| 2 | Dr. M.Arif, | Globalization and Climate change |
| 3 | Prof. V. Gandhimathi, | Addressing Environmental concerns in Rural Development – Issues, approaches and challenges |
| 11.30-1.30 | Session 2 Plenary | |
| Theme | Application of Social Work Methods to Rural Development | |
| Chair | Prof. John Menachery | |
| 4 | Rama Pande | Application of Social Work Methods in Rural Development |
| 5 | Dr. Arundhati Suryakant Patil | Intervention of Social Work in HIV infected children |
| 6 | Dr. Jaimon Varghese | Scope for Social Work Research Practice in Rural Camp – A case study |
| 7 | Miss Rafat Aara | Field Work Lab in a Slum |
| 8 | Dr. B.T.Lawani | Community Based Social Work Practice |
| 2.30-4.30 pm | Session 3 Parallel | |
| Theme | Panchayat Raj Institutions and Democratic Decentralisation | |
| Chair: | Prof. Kunhaman | |
| 9 | Nagmani Rao, | Potentials and Challenges to Women’s Political Participation in PRI’s Post-73rd Constitutional Amendment |
| 10 | Dr. Mahi Pal, | Panchayati Raj in India: Present Status and Future Prospects |
| 11 | Dr. Ramesh Jare | Dalit Participation in Panchayat and Rural Development |
| 12 | Fr. Prince | Social Action protecting the paddy fields |
| 2.30-4.30 pm | Session 4 parallel | |
| Theme | Panchayat Raj Institutions and Democratic Decentralisation | |
| Chair | Dr. Koteeswar Raju | |
| 13 | PV Baiju | Panchayathi Raj and Development of Schedules Castes in Kerala |
| 14 | Mr. Abhay M. Jadhav | Good Facilitation Can Pave the Way for Successful Gramsabha to Empowered Community |
| 15 | Gurupada Saren | The role of Panchayat leaders in HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in rural India – |
| 16 | Manoj Joseph | |
| 5-7 pm | Session 5 Parallel | |
| Theme | Empowerment of vulnerable groups | |
| Chair | Prof. Gandhimati | |
| 17 | Dr. Rose Nembiakkim, | Social Work among the Tribals through Distance Education: Needs and Importance |
| 18 | Dr. Raju Koteeswar & Smt.Dhana Lakshmi | The Philanthropic Social Work: Reaching the Un-reached and Empowering the Vulnerable |
| 19 | Mrs Buddhiraju Ramanasri, | Vulnerable groups and their Empowerment in relation to HIV / AIDS affected |
| 20 | Mrs. Anuradha Patil | Social Work intervention for migrants as a vulnerable group to prevent HIV/AIDS by |
| 21 | Varun Sharma | Social Implications of HIV/AIDS |
| 5-7 pm | Session 6 parallel | |
| Theme | Empowerment of vulnerable groups | |
| Chair: | Prof. Anita Panot | |
| 22 | Ujwala Masdekar | Crossing Thresholds: Women Empowerment through Micro Credit – A Critical Review |
| 23 | Dr. Rajeev Lochan Borah | The Vulnerable Frontier: A Study on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Rural Masses in Northeast India with special reference to Golaghat District of Assam |
| 24 | Dr. Kirtiraj D C | Climate Change : Some Dimensions from Buddhist Perspective |
| 25 | Rambabu Botcha, | Levels of Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV/AIDS in Phase over and Scale up Areas: Need for Social Work Intervention |
| 7-8.30 pm | Special Input Session | Padmashri Anna Hazare |
| 9:00 PM | Street Play competition |
| 26.02.2011 | Day 3 / Session No. / Type / Theme / Chair / Presenters | Topic of the paper presentation |
| 8.55-10.45 | Special Input Session | Padmashri Rajender Singh the Ramon Magsasay Award winner |
| 11.30-1.30 | Session 7 Parallel | |
| Theme | Rural Poverty and Livelihood | |
| Chair | Prof. SK Hulbe | |
| 26 | Dr Asutosh Pradhan | Microfinance as a Strategy for Sustainable Livelihoods in Rural Rajasthan |
| 27 | Patil Sushama Mangesh | Exploring Livelihood Avenues in Distressed Vidarbha, In |
| 28 | Francina PX | A study on Community food security interventions: with special reference to Paddy Cultivation in Pattanakad Panchayath, Alappuzha Dist., Kerala |
| 29 | Anita Panot, | Inclusion of Women in MGREGA: The Challenges Ahead |
| 30 | Kaushalendra Pratap Singh | Rural Poverty and Livelihood: Special reference to MNREGA Scheme in Uttar Pradesh |
| 11.30-1.30 | Session 8 Parallel | |
| Theme | Impact of HIV on Rural Development | |
| Chair | Prof. Lata Kankariya | |
| 31 | Dr. Sheikh Nazir Jabbar | Misconceptions and Social Discrimination; a Study of HIIV/AIDS Infected – Families in a Village of Hingoli District |
| 32 | Dr. N. Sreerama Murty | Prevention of HIV: Challenges For Sex Workers- A Study In Andhra Pradesh |
| 33 | Alfred J George | Hope and Aspirations of People Living With HIV/Aids At St. John’s Health Services Pirappancode, Trivandrum |
| 2.30-4.00 | Session 9 Parallel | |
| Theme | Impact of Climate change and environmental diversification | |
| Chair | Dr. Ambadass | |
| 34 | Prof. K. K. Kanojia | Social Work Intervention in Rural Drinking Water Management: A Case Study |
| 35 | Dr. Ganesh Rajpure | Coping Machanism and Adaptive Measures of Rural Community towards the Climage Change |
| 36 | Fr. Thomas Mullenmadackel VC | An Integrated Eco- Friendly Recycling Programme-A Model Of Micro Planning For The Middle Class Farmers |
| 37 | Nilesh U. Gaikwad | Impact of Globalization on Agriculture & Rural Development |
| 2.30-4.00 | Session 10 Parallel | |
| Theme | Impact of Globalisation on Agriculture and Rural Development | |
| Chair: | Prof. Lissy James | |
| 38 | Prof. Vijaykumar B. Waghmare, | Application for Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods by Trainee Social Workers for the practice of Social Work methods |
| 39 | Dr. Bhalchandra R. Deshmukh | Farmer Suicide: Situation of farmer in Yavatmal district in the Context of Globalization |
| 4.30-6.00 | Valedictory Session |
Address by Padmashri Anna Hazare
In addition of 9 input sessions covering 39 presentations two special sessions by eminent social workers of international importance were part of the National Seminar. At 7-8.30 pm on 25th February 2011, interaction with Padmashri Shri Anna Hazare was arranged. He clarified the concept of development as development of people rather than infrastructure and wealth. He emphasized the need of nurturing useful leadership by social work education – leaders with Shudhachar, Shudhavichar, Nishkalanka Jeevan, Jeevan me tyag aur Apaman Peene ka Shakti. He exhorted the social workers to uphold development in one hand and stoppage of percolation of development funds on the other hand. He advised the participants to seek intrinsic reward in the work they do and refrain from running after happiness elsewhere. He shared his formula of training development workers and the strategy of volunteering for rural development.
Address by Padmashri Rajender Singh
On 26.2.11 at 8.55-10.45 am, interaction with Padmashri Shri Rajender Singh the Ramon Magsasay Award winner, commonly known as the waterman, was arranged. He expressed his pain of witnessing the conversion of once beautiful rivers in to dirty drains in the process of economic and infrastructure development. Industrialisation and urbanisation brought material development at the cost of human life. Sarcastically he has stated how will the bottled water be sold unless the rivers are polluted and the water unpotable. In order to save the villages, the vicious cycle of helplessness, illness and poverty is to be broken. Rivers are the source of life for the villagers. Once they are deprived of their lifeline, they are forced to migrate to the unclean slums of the metropolitan cities. What is happening today is a displacement of the moisture, wisdom, relationship between nature and man. Displacement leads to destruction which further leads to disaster.
This is the story of the so called development taking place today. What is required is a bold action. Inspired by his powerful words, several participants expressed openly their willingness to get in to positive action by putting an end to meaningless talks. Finally he advised the social work professionals to get in to madness of pursuing a right vision and enjoy every little effort in achieving the same.
Meanwhile Mr. Vinod Bodhankar of Vishwasanskriti Ashram presented the efforts made by them to protect the five rivers of Pune city.
Maharashtra Darshan, the Cultural Show
Presentation of special cultural show was also the part of the National Seminar. On 24th February 2011, at 7 pm, professional artists of Maharashtra presented traditional cultural forms such as VACHANTRI, an instrumental music show, GANA GOLAN the famous Shrikrishna and Gopikas loving melodies, LEZIM, the Maharashtra folk dance, KISAN NRITYA, the Maharashtra farmers’ dance, JHAMP another Maharashtra folk number using metalic rods, JAGRAN GONDHAL, a Maharashtra traditional musical dance art performed by a couple, WAGYA and MURALI, and THAKAR NRITHYA, a Maharashtra tribal dance appeasing the deities to entertain the national and international participants of the National Seminar.
At 8.30 pm on 25.2.11 Cultural Show by social work students was performed after the dinner. Cultural performance of the student social workers included Manipuri Folk Dance, Maharashtra Ki Lokdhara, Mono Act on Drug by Ms. Habiba Hashmi and Malharwadi
Competitions for Students
At 11 am on 24.2.11 Poster Competition was conducted. Apart from paper presentations competitions for the student social workers were also held during the seminar days. Students from 7 schools of social work participated in various items. Poster competition was held on 11 am on 24th February 2011. There were 71 participants for poster competition and Namrata Singh of IGNOU, Delhi, George Mathew of IGNOU, Kochi and Chavan Nilesh of CSRD-ISWR won the first, second and third positions respectively.
After the cultural show of 25.2.11 Street play competitions were held. 6 teams participated in the street play competitions and Institute of Social Sciences, Social Centre, Ahmednagar, School of Social Work, IGNOU, New Delhi and CSRD-ISWR, Ahmednagar secured first, second and third positions respectively.
Valedictory Function
On 26th February 2011, at 4 pm, the valedictory function was held under the chairmanship of Dr P Anbalagan, IAS, the District Collector, Ahmednagar. In his address, Dr Anbalagan, revealed the development status of Ahmednagar district and the role of professional social workers in the community development programmes of the district. The seminar report was presented by Dr Jaimon Varghese. Prizes were distributed by Dr P Anbalagan. Vote of thanks was given by Dr Suresh Pathare, Director, CSRD. While giving thanks to the guests of honour, delegates, participants, paper presenters, the organizing team and the students, he announced the forthcoming international seminar on the theme of Religion, Spirituality and Religion to be held on 27-29 December 2011 which would conclude the golden jubilee celebration of CSRD-ISWR.