24-25 February 2018
Report of the proceedings and the papers presented
The two days’ seminar had 90 scholars including MSW / MPhil / Ph D students, field practitioners and academicians as registered participants. There were 5 plenary sessions and 5 concurrent sessions. Altogether there were 20 research based papers and 11 plenary talks presented during the seminar.
Opening session
The seminar began at 10.00 AM by garlanding the bust of Prof. BH Hiwale, the founder of the Institute followed by prayer song by the Institute choir.
Prof. Suresh Pathare, the Director, BPHES’ CSRD-ISWR, welcomed the gathering and introduced the purpose of the seminar. Social work is a practice profession in which social workers always implement innovative activities for social development. Research and field work are an integral parts of social work education. Research is fact finding and problem solving method of social work. Social work students explore about various social issues and problems and discover correlations between various socio economic variables that are significant for social work practice. The national seminar was organised to provide opportunity for students and young professionals to present their learning and discoveries experienced during their fieldwork as well as the research work at a national plat form. It will also provide opportunity to social work educators and students to understand the variety of social issues and innovative strategies applied to deal these issues in different socio-economic-political and geographical context.
The guests were felicitated. Mr. Jitendra Badgujar, the CSR Head, Cummins Ltd, Prof. GD Londhe, retired professor in Economics and a co-founder of CSRD, and Dr. Ankur Saxena, NAPSWI board member, Professor in social work, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, expert in industrial social work from Baroda were the guests of the opening session.
The first plenary session was chaired by Prof. GD Londhe.
Mr. Jitendra Badgujar presented his paper on “Sustainability a key for successful CSR”. India is great need for leaders in CSR. The basics of CSR are its vision and mission. The vision and mission of CSR is to be on the front for social transformation in the area where we work. Core values are intrinsic interest, integrity, involvement, innovation, social engineering, reward and recognition.
Dr. Ankur Saxena spoke on the topic of “Rural Social Work: Role of Industry, Government & Civil Society”. The presentation started with a documentary on Pumsari Adarshgram, Sabarkhand district, Gujrat. Digital village, CCTV, Wifi, 120 loud speakers in the village to announce government schemes, 20 litres of water for Rs. 5 to the villagers, waste management (solid management, Rs. 100 annual waste management tax), Rs. 50 for wifi per month, 110 SHG, skill development centre, 24 hours electricity, own power generation plant (eco energy plant from village waste), street lights from eco plant, sprinkler irrigation, etc. CSR by students of MSW – milk chillers, solar panels on Narmada bank, vatsalya foundation (sanitary napkins), incinators, Avvil’s water ATM, Salt pan workers, mud making vessels, wind farms, start ups (entrepreneurs), brick making unit, cotton bal machines, earthen based refrigeration, Akshy patra (mid day meals), and many more.
The second plenary session was chaired Prof. Ankur Saxena
The second plenary session was chaired Prof. Ankur Saxena. The session started at 12.00 noon. Dr. GD Londhe spoke on the topic of “Application of Media in Rural Development: Challenges & Innovations”. There are two types of media – print media and electronic media supplying information for rural development. Both have advantages and disadvantages of their own. Print materials are easy to store, carry and use as per convenience of the rural folk. Electronic media are more advanced, costly, difficult to store, not easily available at remote corners of the villages. Innovations are to overcome the emerging challenges. Technological innovations are for material part of the reality and social innovations are for spiritual part of the reality. Every piece of information is not knowledge. Information need to be converted into knowledge (usable data) through innovations. Message is useful information sent from a proper source to a bonafide user for development. There are two types of social work – philanthropist who does social work for intrinsic reward and professional social work who engineers community chest. The communicator has to covert the urge for social change through innovation. The social engineer has to adapt and adopt innovations in information technology for social development.
Adv. Nirmala Chaudhary spoke on “Domestic Violence Faced by Rural Women – Social Workers’ Response”. Domestic violence is a serious issue in the rural areas in India especially with regard to the rural women. Rights of married women are covered by Domestic Violence Act, 2005. However, there are rights of other women of the household that are not properly taken care of. The rights of mothers (pensioners), daughters, sisters, sister in laws, and others are taken care of by Nyayadhar. More openings for MSW professionals have come in the sector of prevention of domestic violence. They need to learn the law, the value of witnessing, and the role of protection officers. More MSW professionals are being inducted in civil hospitals, DSP office, counselling centres etc. Most popular complaints are suspicion on married women leading to suicide and dowry related violence leading to murder / suicide (3 % of all cases in India). Negativity is built up in the house. Cruelties are mental and physical. After 3-4 births, the body of women is weakened and physical hurts further deteriorate the body. Every year 2-3 % increase is noticed with regard to physical violence. Under domestic violence Act the incidents of painful experiences are counted – how many times tortured, the number of injuries, the period of pain, how many times admitted in hospital, hospital expenses, etc. – and the compensation is enhanced (5-6 lacs). Protection officers ensure the protection of women at husband’s house (for the welfare of the children – education). Domestic Violence Act is more comprehensive than any other previous Acts. All the human rights of women are protected within the household.
During the question answer session, it was cleared that Pati Parameswar nahi hai, jeevan sathi hai. Gods do not have pain and needs. Husbands are not gods. They have human needs and pains. Husband and wife should support each other. Evidence is more important. Convince women the conviction rate of various acts of violence.
The question about ‘women are against women in the household’ was dealt by the resource person stating that the reason for women standing against another woman is the man who is the head of the family, especially the double standard of the man. Every mother first entered the house as a daughter in law and experienced the conduct of a mother in law. When she becomes the mother in law, she applies the learning in her new situation. She has no place to go other than the husband’s house.
02.30-03.45 PM Inaugural session and Plenary Session III
The inaugural session was held at 2.30 PM. Dr. RP Dwivedi, head of Gandhian Studies, Mahatma Gandhi Kasi Vidyapeeth, presided over the session. Dr. NM Aston, the chairperson of BPHE Society, Mr. Vishal Barnabas, the secretary of BPHE Society, Dr. Bipin Jojo, TISS, Mumbai were the guests of honour. After the institute song sung by the Institute choir, Dr. Suresh Pahare, the Director, BPHES’ CSRD ISWR, introduced the purpose of the seminar. At the outset, he expressed his gratitude towards the BPHE governing body members who graced the inaugural session, and the department of planning and development, Savitribai Phule Pune University for partially sponsoring the event. He welcomed all the resource persons and delegates from far and wide who came to Ahmednagar to contribute to the successful conduct of the seminar. He wished all the best for the participants to have an intellectual feast, which is prepared by a blend of experts in the field and the social work trainees.
Dr. NM Aston, the chairperson of BPHE Society, gave the welcome address. CSRD has always been special in organizing valuable events for the professional development of the students and the profession itself. This Institute has helped the Society to fly high its flag.
Mr. Vishal Barnabas, the Secretary of BPHES, addressed the gathering. The Institute song was inspiring. Indians are able to do jugad. Indian jugad is nothing but the innovations. There are systemic challenges and procedural challenges. Let this event help everyone learn the innovative ways (jugad) to overcome the challenges.
Presidential address was delivered by RP Dwivedi. We need to turn to the traditional models and inspirations from Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and Mother Theresa. What are the challenges in the society? 7 social evils delivered by Gandhiji are the challenges for social work even today. They are knowledge without character, science without humanity, commerce without morality, politics without principles, worship without sacrifice, pleasure without conscience and wealth without work.
Mr. Pradeep Jare proposed the vote of thanks for the inaugural session.
In the plenary session followed (Plenary III) Dr. Bipin Jojo, from TISS, Mumbai gave the key note address on the topic of “Tribal Social Work – Innovations & Challenges”. Whether we should apply the theory to the social realities or whether we need to derive a theory based on the ground reality? Can we have the same theories, principles and methods applicable in every social context? Do the classical and neo classical theories satisfy the needs of our country? In 2005-6, the curricular restructuring took place in TISS. Three new areas emerged – women centric social work, disability centric social work and dalit and tribal centred. All the courses emphasized the terms – vulnerability, marginalization and social injustice. Indian social work cannot neglect the issues of Dalits, Tribals, Women and the Differently abled. David Harvey’s radical social work is revolutionary approach suitable to India. Social work curriculum in India was introduced from the USA. Almeity Desai’s curricular review on behalf of the UGC noted that the social work needs a shift from problem based to research to action based research. Remedial and rehabilitative model of social work is imported to India from the first world country. Anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive social work, radical social work and indigenous social work being experimented in Australia, UK and the USA may be tried in India exploring into development of a model developed within India. Tribal and Dalit based social work is not from the perspective that the Tribal communities are backward, geographically isolated, primitive and uncivilized. What is required is emancipator and liberative social work.
04.00-05.30 PM Parallel Sessions (I-II)
After the tea break concurrent sessions were held at 2 lecture halls.
Concurrent Session I: Seminar Hall 1 (Golden Jubilee Hall)
There were six paper presentations in this session. The session was chaired by Dr. BA Deshmukh. The presenters and their topics were the following:
Bhagyashri Chaurangnath Rathod & Jaimon Varghese, “A study on the issues and challenges of women of Banjara community with special reference to Valthan Tanda, Chalisgaon tal., Jalgaon dist., Maharashtra”
Jyotsana Nikambe & Yogesh Kudale, “A study on challenges faced by MSRTC women bus conductors in Ahmednagar”
Pratibha Vilas Pandit & Jaimon Varghese, “A study on the women selling vegetables in the vegetable market of Shrirampur city, Ahmednagar”
Suvarna Bodke & Vaishali Pathare, “A study on impact of drought on the lives of women labourers in ltgayal village, Nanded district”
Amol Prabhakar More & Jaimon Varghese, “Challenges in Participation of Women Gram Sabha in the Village Development: A study of Shelapur Village, Motala tal. Buldhana Dist.”
Kalyani Kokate & Vijay Sansare, “Factors Affecting on Passive Participation of Women in the Process of Rural Development”
Concurrent Session II: Seminar Hall 2 (First Floor Step Hall)
The second concurrent session was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Usha N Lolge. Altogether the following five papers were presented.
Abhijit Markad & Jaimon Varghese, “Issues and challenges of leprosy affected people – a comparative study on institutional and community based rehabilitation in Ahmednagar district”
Vikas Jagtap & Jaimon Varghese, “A study on the health facilities provided by Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Rural Hospital with special reference to Junnar city”
Varsha Shivaji Dhadge & Avinash Gore, “A Clinical study on the role and importance of Anganwadi in Eradication of Malnutrition”
Priyanka Unde, Mrs. Aasawari Zapake, “The awareness and attitude of graduate students towards the sex education”
Vikas Chavan & Sandesh Chavan, “A study from the social work perspective of mental stress of the students studying in Pratibha Niketan higher secondary Ashram School”
Day Two: 25 February 2018, Sunday
09.30-10.45 AM Plenary Session IV
Fourth plenary session was chaired by Prof. M Arif. Dr. BA Deshmukh delivered his talk on ‘Inclusive Education in the multicultural context with special reference to Tribal communities in India’. The 698 Tribal communities of India are not part of the caste system. They do not belong to any caste and any known religion. They are sometimes considered as ‘out castes’ and the ‘Hindus’. That is a misunderstanding. What do we do with tribal communities is a challenge even today. In 1951 the literacy rate was 8 % and today it is 59 %, less than the mainstream by 9 %. Education in multicultural approach is the inclusive approach. There are certain challenges in Tribal education. The Tribal culture has not been properly assessed. Everyone tried to impose their own culture upon them defining them always ‘backward’. We have not yet listened to the opinions of anthropologists and sociologists on Tribal culture. Data on Tribal culture is manipulated. Census data says ’93 % of the tribal communities are Hindus’. It is not true. ‘So much has been spent on them’. Governments over the years have been manipulating facts of Tribal culture.
The second talk of the fourth plenary session was given by Dr. Atul Pratab on the topic of “Innovations in Field Work”. Social work is a practice based discipline – ever expanding and never ending profession. There are several challenges to social work. Social work education is urban centric. Social work curriculum is not update. Semester system is a disaster for social work curriculum. Methods need lengthy process learning. Spiritual learning (learning with mind) is missing. Social work is still holding the welfare approach. We need empowerment approach which is giving choices and enabling to exercise those choices. Social work lacks documentation of best practices. There is need for action oriented and participatory researches. There is a lack of appropriate field work agencies. There is mismatch between the expectations of the Institute and the assignments given by the agencies. Social work needs innovations or rather improvisations in social work education. Acquire, augment, apply and assess (4 A’s) are important for social work learning. SMART objectives are required for field work. Capacity to translate theory into practice is the core competency for social workers. Ten core competencies first delivered by the USA are being adopted by several Institutes. It is better to take open community (rural / urban / tribal) placements, block offices, panchayats and schools. A competency – task framework for field work is required. Micro social work is missing in India. Social workers need to become change agents. They are simply facilitators for a system. They need to challenge the system. They need to become activists. ‘Uday Sahyadri is my experiment of community based organization in Bihar and I challenge MG Ross’ idea on community organization’. Participative assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are required for community based work.
The third talk of the fourth plenary session was given by Dr. RP Dwivedi on the topic of “Social Work Practices in India – Indigenous Approaches and Models”. What type of development is envisaged by social workers today? Children are deserting their parents in the villages. Domestic violence is rampant everywhere. Social work has been in India before 1936. There are incidents of social work interventions in Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Community participation, cooperation and collaboration in villages in connection with marriage, childbirth, death and all the 16 life cycle related rituals are ideal. There are challenges in the villages. The perceptions are caste based. Change the lifestyle, perceptions, mindset and attitude is the challenge for social workers. Qualities of social workers are a challenge. Gorbhchov, ‘I saw God with my own eyes in India. None works there, however, the country rums smoothly. Who is running it other than God?’ Values of social work are challenges. Nishkama karma is again a value of social work.
The fourth plenary talk was delivered by Dr. Ramesh Jare, TISS, Tuljapur, on the topic of ‘Challenges in fieldwork’. CSRD was the first college in India in the field of indigenization of social work. The food for work programme started in CSRD in 1960 was the beginning of EGS and now, MGNAREGA. A national seminar is being held in Delhi on this very topic of indigenization of social work. What would be the nature of Indian social work is yet to be seen. Community participation for watershed programme in the village gave rise to 5 definitions. The rich, ‘we can’t do shramadan. We don’t have time and manpower’. The poor, ‘we can’t do shramadan. The land which is being developed is of the rich, not ours’. ‘The contractors shall do the shramadan, because they are going to benefit’. ‘None will do the shramadan, but donate money’. Big challenge for social work is lack of motivation. One month block placement in Dalit families in every semester will sensitize the students. That is the way the students can learn from people. Choice is given to the students to choose the agency and form the groups for field work. There will be minimum need for supervision. Give small steps (the detailed formats) for field work. That is the documentation. We need to give anti oppressive social work orientation. Social work is considered as ‘apolitical’ profession. It should be a political – taking stand for the oppressed. Coping with the mission approach is a challenge today. Social work education needs to include CSR strategy. Training for social audit and micro planning (14th financial commission) is the challenge. The entire Sindhudurg district is covered by micro planning by TISS students. Action based (intervention) research is the challenge.
11.45 – 12.30 Noon Plenary Session V
The fifth plenary session was chaired by Dr. Ankur Saxena. Mr. Yogesh Mhaske, the Sarpanch of Goglegaon adarshgram, gave shared his experience of ‘Community Mobilization for Village Development’. Village has become nirmalgram and addiction free village. The entire villagers cooperated for separation of wet and dry waste, recycling of the wastes, organic farming, 100 concrete roads, digital primary school, 24 hours electricity, 20 litres of drinking water for Rs. 5 for all the villagers, 100 % biogas production and utilization, 100 % utilization of government schemes, eye donation, blood donation, CCTV in the village, etc. In 3 years, the village transformed into model village, second only Hiware Bazar. After completing MBA from IMS in 2007, Yogesh got the placement at Minnesota University. He was elected as an independent candidate and became the model Sarpanch by confident steps. We need to give something to our own village. We need to give back to earth for the oxygen we use daily. We need to nurture at least two trees. By answering the questions, Mr. Yogesh expressed that there should be master plan for the village before we start any work.
Mr. Amrut Mutha delivered his talk on “Innovative Experiments for Sustainable Agriculture”. After working as architect for 20 years, he turned to become a agriculturist. He planted 10,000 bamboos and created oxygen for 1000s of people. We need 100 Yogesh Mhaske’s to transform the villages. What we need to visit the model farm where we generate power for ourselves. Take government subsidy to start vermin compost plants and live with soil and there is the peace of mind.
12.30 – 01.30 PM Parallel (Concurrent) Sessions (III-V)
3 concurrent sessions were held at 3 lecture halls
Concurrent Session III: Seminar Hall 1 (Golden Jubilee Hall)
The third concurrent session was chaired Mr. PS Patil. There were three presentations.
Shamuvel Waghmare presented his paper on “Social inequality and instability in Maharashtra, Present Scenario and Social Work response”
Rahul Pralhad Surwade presented his paper on “Atrocities and its impact on Dalit community – a study of Khamgaon Village, Buldhana Dist. (MS)”
Shailendra Gajanan Manatkar & Yogesh Kudale presented their paper on “An attitude of primary teachers towards changing primary education with reference to ZP Schools of Ahmednagar”
Concurrent Session IV: Seminar Hall 2 (First floor step hall)
The fourth concurrent session was chaired Dr. Usha N Lolge. There were three presentations.
Shivaji Chinchkar presented his paper on “Re-igniting intrinsic motivation in teachers and educational system”
Kavita Gore presented her paper on “Human right issues in community organization practice”
Sonali Kamble presented her paper on “Field work experiences on Narmada Bachao Andolan in Maharashtra”
Concurrent Session V: Seminar Hall 3 (Second Floor Lecture Hall)
The fifth concurrent session was chaired Dr. Jaimon Varghese. There were three presentations.
Dr. Jayashri P Deshmukh presented his paper on “Role of Professional Social Workers in Rural Development Process”
Santaji Rode presented his paper on “Environmental values and environmental equilibrium”
Ram Bhosale presented his paper on ‘Challenges in Scheme Implemented by Maharashtra Government Debt Waiver Farmers – A study on Gulkeda Village’
Valedictory session 1.30 PM
The valedictory session was held at 1.30 PM. Dr. Jaimon Varghese presented the seminar report. Participants’ feedbacks were given by Rahul Survade and Dr. Atul Pratab. Dr. Suresh Pathare gave the concluding remarks. National seminar provided ideological interchange between the young and the experts in the field of social work. The students’ forum started last year would continue for the coming years. The students learn theory from the classrooms, skills from the field, ideas and inspirations from the seminars like this.
Prof. Sanjai Bhatt, Department of Social work, University of Delhi gave the valedictory address. CSRD ISWR is Commitment for Social Responsibility and Dynamic Institute of Social Work. We need to document thousands of innovations we undertake in the field. Innovations are the new ways of doing things and solving problems. Problems and challenges give opportunity for innovations. Students’ assignments can be compiled to create reading materials. Seminar proceedings should have a separate section of at least 10 innovations recorded in the name of best practices.
Mr. Suresh Mugutmal proposed the vote of thanks and the valedictory function came to an end with the lunch at 3 PM.