RONO HILLS, Oct 29: A two-day national seminar on ‘Social Work Discourse on Sustainable Development in Northeast India’, organized by the Department of Social Work, Rajiv Gandhi University under the aegis of the North Eastern Council (NEC), concluded at the RGU premises here on Wednesday.
The seminar marked a significant milestone in the Department's academic journey since its establishment in 2015 and provided a national platform for academic deliberation, professional dialogue and knowledge exchange on sustainable development in Northeast India. The inaugural session, held on Tuesday, was presided over by Prof Shivaraj, Vice Chancellor RGU.
In his presidential address, the VC emphasised the importance of developing practical and community-oriented solutions to contemporary social challenges. He underscored the need to translate classroom learning and academic research into meaningful community engagement and socially responsive action.
Prof Kalpana Sarathy, Professor at the Centre for Public Health, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and former Dean, School of Social Work, and former Deputy Director, TISS Guwahati Campus, delivered the keynote address on ‘Sustainable Development and Social Work in Northeast India: From Rhetoric to Responsibility’. Her address provided the conceptual and thematic foundation for the seminar, highlighting the responsibility of the social work profession in advancing inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.
Over the two days, the seminar featured three plenary sessions, one thematic panel discussion and six technical sessions, bringing together distinguished academicians, researchers, social work educators, development professionals, practitioners and students from various institutions. Resource persons from leading academic institutions and development organisations contributed to the deliberations, exploring opportunities for strengthening social work education, research, policy and practice in Northeast India.
Prof Sanjoy Roy, Professor and Director, Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi, and former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, and former Head, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, delivered the valedictory address on ‘Digital Transformation in Social Work Practice: Building a Sustainable Future’. His address highlighted the growing significance of digital technologies in transforming social work education, professional practice, service delivery and community-based interventions in the context of sustainable development.
The valedictory session was chaired by Mepung Tadar Bage, Member Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC). In her address, she emphasised the vital role of professional social work in addressing contemporary social challenges, strengthening community participation and promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
An important highlight of the valedictory programme was the presentation of awards for the Poster Presentation Competition, organised for undergraduate and postgraduate students of social work. The First Prize was awarded to Jumsi Lida and Team, MSW 1st semester students, Dept of Social Work, RGU, for their poster titled ‘The Impact of Social Stigma on Mental Health and Recovery among People with Substance Use Disorders’.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the seminar, Dr Kaushalendra Pratap Singh, HoD Social Work (RGU), highlighted the importance of strengthening the interface between academia, professional practice, community institutions and public policy to advance sustainable and inclusive development.