A Webinar was jointly organized by College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai and School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore on 23rd March 2021 to commemorate World Social Work day.
Dr. Nilima Mehta, internationally renewed child protection consultant and visiting professor SNDT, TISS and CSWNN moderated the webinar. Dr. Vimla Nadkarni the Co-convener, campaign for the NCWE Bill and former Dean, SSW, TISS, Mumbai and former president of IASSW and Dr. Helen Joseph, working Group Member Campaign for the NCWE Bill and former professor CSWNN, Mumbai and former president, BATSW were the discussants.
Dr. Lidwin Dias, Principal of College of Social Work, Nirmal Nikethan welcomed the eminent speakers, IQAC co-ordinators, faculty members, and the participants to the webinar. She highlighted the specific objectives behind organizing this webinar focusing on the challenges in social work during pandemic and the National Council for Social work education Bill. Dr. Lidwin Dias also highlighted on this years theme “Ubuntu: I am Because We Are”. Moderator of the webinar Dr. Nilima Mehta introduced the speakers Dr. Vimla Nadkarni and Dr. Helen Joseph to the participants.
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Dr. Vimala Nadkarni discussed the importance of social work in addressing the issues arising from the pandemic. She presented some of the challenges faced by India since the pandemic, like the social and economic inequalities, urban slums and crowding, loss of income, starvation, discrimination, lack of doctors and the opportunities for Social work intervention during the pandemic because the social workers can intervene through educating, co-ordinating, counselling and through help lines. She also gave an outline of the involvement of YUVA, Childline and National Service Scheme during Covid times. She concluded her discussion by highlighting the importance of strengthening Social work education and practice.
Dr. Helen Joseph spoke about the National Council of Social Work Education - Draft Bill 2021 by NCSWE working group. She explained the Background of social work council and its importance to enhance education and maintain a standard. She mentioned the processing of the Bill and its current state. A meeting of social work educators was called by the social sector division of NITI Aayog on July 14, 2020 for valuable inputs and suggestions to establish a National Council for Social Work. So it is very important to work actively and see that the bill becomes an act soon.
The presentations were followed by an interactive session with the resource persons, where the participants asked questions with the resource persons. The webinar concluded with a Social Work pledge facilitated by Ms. Eveleen Benis, Head of the Department of MSW, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya and Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Juliet C.J, Principal, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore.
