GET TOGETHER OF SOCIAL WORKERS – ALUMNI OF
THE TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, MUMBAI
& OTHER UNIVERSITIES
hosted by CENTRE FOR EDUCATION & DOCUMENTATION, BANGALORE.
People present : 1.Archana
Mehendale (TISS-1992 NN-1990), 2.Bernadine (NN), 3.Sujatha Banerjee
(TISS –1988), 4.Vandana Vishwanathan (TISS’94), 5.Arlene
Manoharan (TISS’90), 6.Rima Aranha (-TISS –2003), 7.Geetha Menon
(TISS 1979), 8.Rebecca Eapen (TISS 1999), 9.Sarala Rao
(MSUniv.Baroda-1969), 10.S.J. Devi, 11.C.B.Rammohan (TISS 2003) 12.
Manjulika Vaz (TISS 1994) 13. Veena (CED) 14. Nazarius Manoharan
(Spouse of TISSian)
People
not able to attend but keen on being involved : 1. Vinalini
Maithrani (TISS’88), 2.Kavitha Krishnamurthy (TISS’93), 3.Deenaz
Damania (TISS ), 4.Gopal Karanth (TISS ), 5.Mr.& Mrs. Kala
(TISS’50’s), Benson (TISS’98)
The Day’s Agenda :
11 am - Tea , Registration & browsing
around CED
11.30 am - Short film on TISS followed by a reflection/
discussion on the
changing social work profession
1 pm -
Lunch
2.30 pm - Documentary Film on the politics of hate
Main
Points Emerging from the reflection/ discussion on the social work
profession:
All felt that this was a good session. It was helpful that the number was small so the discussion could be intense. The points emerging broadly come under three areas –
Most felt that the course or the environment it plunged you into, made you into a thinking, questioning individual with some skills and attitudes and some sense of activism.
However, this sometimes happened inspite of the institute or because of the phenomenon and activism outside.
The course appears weak on any ideological stream and should expose students to all streams of ideology.
To some extent, the course provides you with the ability to theorise – to bridge the gap between field and theory but it was also felt that the course lacked sufficient rigour for a strong theoretical base or field practice … question, Should the course be three years..?
The course should not be just about the remedies of the problems being handled but also the root causes . The use of americanised casework is not viable in local situations.
Most of the departments and the courses offered are not integrated and hence specializations do not matter or make sense once you graduate.
There is no contact after the person leaves the institute. TISS lacks a structured alumni network.
There is the constant struggle for identity and recognition as a professional, especially in roles in relation to doctors, lawyers and so on. Question…why is this so ?
Those in institutions or agencies have a more defined identity, career path, success and level of impact.
There is also a struggle between incomes, lifestyles and ideology. ..Question …should not a social worker demand respect for her/himself by getting a respectful wage on par with other professions ?
There is sometimes a sense of arrogance and self rightousnous among social workers, and also a lack of accountability, that does the profession little good.
There is a need for constant upgradation of knowledge and skills. …do we need a Continuing Social Work education course or is professional enhancement the responsibility of the organisation where the social worker is working ?
There is often a clash or a blurring of lines between the professional and the personal spaces. The social worker is often not understood and recognised as a professional in his/her own family or social context.
In most instances a social worker gets moulded in the ideology of the organisation that he/she joins.
There is a great potential for the integration of the social field and the policy making structure. There are posts reserved on panels for a social worker which we as social workers should not shy away from.
Things like the NGO credibility alliance, the accreditation process for social workers, the coming together of trained social workers for consultations, should be encouraged and strengthened, to improve the image and the impact of the work. (see attachments)
The S.W. professional can fit in and bring about impact at any level from local / grassroots to national and international.
Future Direction :
Following the above the discussion, these directives came forth -
To establish contact with TISS, may be the Social Work Education group, and inform them of our initiative and see how the reflections and experiences can feed back into the course development etc.
To set up an e-group to continue the discussion on the issues that came up and the post summaries on the Bangalore TISS Yahoo group.
To meet again at CED after about a couple of months to take this forward and may be at some stage link with groups in other places.
Names and Addresses of those
present on September 4, 2004
1. Bernadine
Centre for
Child and Law
NLSIU, Nagarbhavi
Bangalore-560 072
Email:
deena_av@hotmail.com
2.
Sujatha
308, Mayflower Gardens,
Nagavarpalya, C.V.Raman
Nagar]
Bangalore-
Email: arindam_gplc@yahoo.co.in
3.
Vandana Vishwanathan
31, Clarance House
3, Langford
Road
Bangalore-25
Email:v@cocoonconsulting.com
4.
Arlene Manoharan
67, Righmond Road
Bangalore-25
Email:
arlene_manoharan@hotmail.com
5.
Archana Mehendale
310, Ebony, Raheja Residency
7th cross, 3rd
Block, Koramangala
Bangalore-560 034
Email: amm@vsnl.com
6.
Rima Aranha
148, 2nd cross, Domlur 2nd
Stage,
Indiranagar
Bangalore-560 071
Email:
rima_aranha@softhome.net
7.
Geetha Menon
103, Usha Kiran , Handin Road,
Ulsoor,Bangalore-560
042
Email: mahila_21@yahoo.co.in
8.
Rebecca Eapen
204, Maple Apts, Michail Palya
Indiranagar 80Ft
Road,
Bangalore-560 038
Email: rebecca_eapen@yahoo.co.uk
9.
Sarala Rao
B-2185, Opp SBI
1st B Main
Yelahanka New
Town
Bangalore-560 064
Phone: 285670361
Email:
sarala1948@yahoo.co.in
10.
S.J. Devi
75, A.G.Colony
Anand Nagar, Hebbal
Phone:080 -
36949865
11. C.B.Rammohan
P210, 8th Main, 10th
Sector,
Jeevan Bhima Nagar,
Bangalore - 560
072
Phone:9880036634
Email:
beyondtherim@rediffmail.com
Chennai:
9840303983
12. Nazarius Manoharan
67,Richmond
Road,
Bangalore-560 025
Email: nmanoharan@hotmail.com
Manjulika Vaz,
D-37 St.John's Medical College Staff Quaters
Hosur Road, Bangalore Pin : 560 034
Phone :25533873
Email: manjulika@doccentre.org