<![CDATA[Niruta Publications - SOCIAL WORK BOOKS]]>

<![CDATA[Niruta Publications - SOCIAL WORK BOOKS]]>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:54:00 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[NOAM CHOMSKY’S DISCOURSE ON GLOBALIZATION AND U.S.’ IMPERIALISM]]>Sun, 12 Jun 2016 11:02:07 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/noam-chomskys-discourse-on-globalization-and-us-imperialism

Ashok Antony D'Souza, pp. 296, Rs. 500, Niruta Publications

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Since the dawn of independence India has come a long way and has achieved much, especially in the fields of nuclear and Information Tech- nology (Chakravarty, 2008). Alongside these achievements we have also been witnessing growing authoritarian and repressive nature of the state. The developmental model pursued by the country has been largely in favor of the elites. The weaker sections of the society have grown more vulnerable. It could also be argued that the country was never so divided in economic, social, communal, and political fronts as it is today (Teltumbde, 2003).

This mixture of successes and concerns makes sense only when we see it in its global totality. The processes of globalization, primarily led by the United States of America, actively embraced by India since 1991 in the form of New Economic Policy, have contributed in large measure to the anti-democratic and anti-people attitudes, policies and programs. India, as a fast developing country striving to attain its rightful place in this unipolar world order, has been greatly influenced by the neoliberal ideology and the foreign policy of the US (Bhambhri, 1996).

It is not to say that all or most of our problems are caused by fac- tors external to our country and that we had no freedom whatsoever to effectively face them. However, it has to be recognized here that the traditional, domestic powers of domination have found a new lease of life due to the opportunities provided to them by the forces of neoliberal globalization (Aloysius, 1998).

It is also to be accepted at the very outset that the processes of global- ization have thrown up certain opportunities along with the challenges we have mentioned. There is a general sense of euphoria in the country based on certain predictions of India dominating the economic sphere of the world by 2020 (Bidwai, 2006). However, we need to realize that unless we address the multitude of challenges faced by the country the prospects for such a growth would be greatly thwarted. We need to also understand that even if we attain the projected growth targets without attending to these challenges India would remain less of a just and ‘de- veloped’ country due to the exclusivist and lope-sided features of this achievement.

Addressing the numerous challenges faced by the country and real- izing the opportunities available for a more inclusive and sustainable development requires the partnership of enlightened and committed social activists (Kothari, 2006). India had no dearth of such activists who even before Independence strove hard to uphold the worthy val- ues of social justice and equality. Along with fighting external bondage and imperialism they also denounced the internal tendencies and prac- tices of injustice and dominance (Aloysius, 1998). We require a strong band of such activists today than ever before to work for the cause of the victimized sections of our society and to strengthen the country in its struggle towards inclusive development.

It has to be noted here that even a social activist in some way is a product of the times (John, 1982). Hence, while studying social action as a response to the present challenges we should also be sensitive to the social, political, economic and ideological factors that form and influ- ence the ethos and praxis of an activist. The waves of globalization and imperialism would have influenced the ideology and practice of social action at least to a certain extent. While reflecting on the nature and extent of this influence it is also imperative that we take a critical look at the kind of analyses and strategies used by social activists and evaluate their relative worth and effectiveness.

As suggested in the title, this study hopes to understand the implica- tions of globalization and US imperialism to social action in India based on Noam Chomsky’s discourse on them. The major purpose of this in-troductory chapter is to present a background and rationale to the study in general, based on which the later chapters will try to take up certain specific aspects for analyses and discussion. First, the definitions and historical evolution of some important concepts forming the core of our study have been discussed. Next, an attempt has been made to present the overall impact of some of these phenomena. Then, a brief profile of Noam Chomsky and his ideas has been given so that their relevance to social action and professional social work is rightly understood. Finally, the chapter is concluded with the presentation of the research questions for which an attempt is made to find suitable answers through this study.

Noam Chomsky's Discourse on Globalization Book
File Size:	2426 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[A Holistic Approach to Literacy in India]]>Sat, 11 Jun 2016 11:00:50 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/a-holistic-approach-to-literacy-in-india

Dr. Kodur Venkatesh, pp. 56, Rs. 75, Niruta Publications

A Literate Nation speaks of its Culture and Prosperity. It is a pity that the evil of illiteracy in our country has lead to lack of social awareness among our people leading to their exploitation by most sections of our society. I believe in the concept of `each one teach one` and it takes less than six months to turn an illiterate into a literate who can read and write. More than Adult illiteracy the Child illiteracy could pose a very difficult situation for the society and its overall health. We are a country with extreme diversity with scores of castes, languages and dialects and Literacy would be the only medium to unite the country and appraise every citizen about what is happening around him.

I have seen Dr. Venkatesh, the author of this book working to set up various Adult Literacy Centres, in remote centres, needs to be emulated and supported. I am sure this book brought out by Dr. Venkatesh would help every agency involved in eradicating illiteracy, raise their hopes and meet the challenge.

Raj Purohit
Members of Legislative Assembly
& Entrepreneur, Mumbai

Holistic Approach book
File Size:	687 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[Good Governance and Effective Boards]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:58:37 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/good-governance-and-effective-boards

pp. 392, Rs. 350, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

The governance of voluntary/non-profit organisations becomes increasingly important as organisations grow and develop. Although most organisations have governing boards, motivating and channelling them wisely is often a challenge. As the non-profit establishes itself and diversifies its operations and programs, the work of the board takes on new meaning. An engaged and deliberate board can make the difference between an organisation that is merely surviving from day to day and one that approaches the future with vision and determination.

Board Source, a Washington, DC-based non-profit, is one of the few in the world devoted exclusively to the governance of voluntary/not-for-profit organisations. Board Source, in association with Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy, is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of the Indian non-profit sector through the work of governing boards of various philanthropic organisations.

This book is an Indian adaptation of the internationally popular 'Board Source Governance Series'. The Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy is grateful to Boardn Source for allowing use of its valuable resource material. Special thanks are also owed to Ms. Aarti Madhusudan of Give Foundation, Dr. Marilyn Wyatt and Ms. Kate Pearson of Board Source for assisting the undersigned with the adaptations and editing.

With the rapid growth and development of the non-profit sector in India, the publication of this book is both timely and necessary. But before we plunge into the details, it would perhaps be useful to study and understand the Indian backdrop.

Types Of Non-Profits In India
In India, there are generally five types of non-profit organisations:
(i) trusts;
(ii) societies;
(iii) companies;
(iv) co-operatives;
(v) trade unions.

The characteristics common to the first three types are:
(i) they exist independently of the state (i.e., they are autonomous in their management/governance, though they may be financially supported by the Government) ;

(ii) they are self-governed by a 'board of trustees' or 'managing committee' or 'governing council' which comprises individuals who generally serve in a fiduciary capacity;

(iii) they produce benefits for others, generally outside the membership of the organisation;

(iv) they are 'non-profit making', in as much as they are prohibited from distributing a monetary residual to their own members.

The term 'not-for-profit' or 'non-profit' does not mean that profits cannot be generated by the organisation. Rather, the term implies that the organisation is 'non- profit distributing' in nature.

Also, the entity called 'not-for-profit' or 'non-profit organisation' is not recognised in Indian statute books. Non-profits in India are usually registered as 'trust', 'society' or 'company'.

(i) Trusts
A public charitable trust has, for the purpose of its objects, the members of an uncertain and fluctuating body.

In ascertaining whether a purpose is public or private, one has to see if the class to be benefited, or from which the beneficiaries are to be selected, constitute a substantial body of the public. Hence, trusts which lack the public element, such as trusts for the benefit of workmen or employees of a company, however numerous, have not been held to be 'public charitable'.

A 'trust' is defined as "an obligation annexed to the ownership of property, and arising out of a confidence reposed in and accepted by him for the benefit of another".

A trustee of a public charitable trust must not, in any way, make use of the trust property or of his position as trustee for his own interest or private advantage, nor may he enter into engagements in which he has, or can have, a personal interest which conflicts, or possibly may conflict, with the interest of those whom he is bound to protect. A trustee may remain trustee for life, unless there is a scheme for election in the trust deed of the trust.

Often, trustees appoint among themselves a chairperson (who generally presides at board meetings) and/or an executive/managing trustee. The board of trustees however is jointly and severally responsible.

It is an accepted principle that a trustee of a religious or charitable trust should take proper care of the trust property just as a man of ordinary prudence does, in respect of his personal property.

(ii) Societies
Societies have legal personality and can thus sue and be sued. The liability of their members is limited and, unlike trusts, their private assets cannot be confiscated to satisfy the society's liabilities.

Also, unlike trusts, societies have a more democratic set-up. There is usually a scheme of election for members of the governing council/managing committee. The founders of the society can continue to remain members of the governing council/managing committee, subject to their being elected to the same, from time to time. In rare cases, one or two founder members may be permitted to remain as permanent/life members on the governing council/managing committee.

The managing committee may also elect among themselves office bearers such as president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, with specific duties.

Members of the general body enjoy voting rights and the right to demand the submission of accounts and the annual report of the society.

A society can be wound up if the objectives for which it had been established, have been fully achieved.

(iii) Companies
Although the Companies Act is primarily intended to govern profit-making entities, a section of the Act (section 25, in India) allows the possibility of obtaining non-profit status for certain companies.

A not-for-profit company is a company with limited liability which may be formed for "promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object", provided no profits (if any) or other income in promoting the objects is distributed by way of dividend, etc., to its members. Such a company is not permitted to suffix the term 'limited' or 'private limited' to its name.

A not-for-profit company enjoys certain advantages over a public charitable trust or society, in terms of operational freedom.

Incidentally, the Income Tax Act gives equal treatment to trusts, societies and not-for-profit companies, as far as various tax exemptions are concerned.

(iv) Co-operatives
Although there is no clear legal definition, a co-operative may be defined as an institution which aims at the economic and social betterment of its members and an enterprise which is based on mutual aid conforming to co-operative principles. All states and union territories have their own laws governing co-operatives, and institutions registered as co-operatives are expected to abide by these laws, which can vary considerably from state to state.

(v) Trade Unions
Trade unions are governed by the Trade Union Act, which defines a trade union as a temporary or permanent institution formed for regulating the relations between workers and employers, among workers, or among employers. The Act also allows for a federation of two or more unions. In contrast to all other forms of non-profit organisations, trade unions are allowed to use their general fund to remunerate their members and staff, to fund legal procedures, educational activities and the general welfare of its members. Trade unions are also allowed to have separate funds for promoting the civil and political interests of their members.

There is no single body of law for entire classes of non-profits; instead, as specified above, there are specific laws, legislation and regulations for each major type. In other words, different legal provisions exist at the national and state level.

Boards And Why We Need Them
In India, boards generally constitute:
a) 'trustees' in the case of a 'charitable or religious trust';
b) ‘managing committee' or 'governing council' in the case of a 'society';
c) 'board of directors' or 'managing committee' in the case of a non-profit company.
Boards are necessary from a legal and governance point of view.

Legal necessity:

legally, the funds, properties and assets of the organisation vest in the board;
legally, the onus of advancing the 'aims and objects' is on the board;
boards cannot derive personal benefit from the organisation and hence, their involvement in the organisation is fiduciary;
boards are jointly and severally responsible and hence, duties and responsibility are shared by the team;
boards are required to approve and sign the audited accounts;
policy is set by the board through the process of periodic meetings and resolutions.

General Requirements / Duties / Responsibility of boards:

provide leadership / vision;
give the organisation a sense of direction;
set standards of efficiency, accountability and transparency;
hold the organisation together;
motivate staff;
mobilise resources;
build and nurture an ethical, sensitive, motivated and responsible team;
discourage exaggerated or misleading claims;
provide the necessary 'check and balance'.

Prevailing Non-Profit Governance Models In India
a) Boards of Trusts
Generally, two or more trustees may manage a trust. The charter or trust deed generally specifies the minimum and maximum number of trustees that the trust may have. Unless specified in the trust deed, the trustees may remain trustees for life.

Trusts generally do not have a general body of members and, as such, there is no necessity for annual general meetings or annual reports for members or periodic elections.

Trustees may lay down office by merely putting in a resignation letter before the board. The surviving trustees may appoint new trustees by invitation.

The management of a trust or, rather, who manages the trust (i.e., members of one particular family, etc.) does not determine the public nature of a trust. What is essential is whether it enures to the benefit of the public, not who controls it.

All the properties (movable and immovable) of the trust legally vest in the trustees and all trustees are jointly and severally responsible.

The board of trustees generally meets as often as required. Ideally, the board may meet four to six times a year. However, this may vary.

Often, procedures for calling and conducting meetings are laid down in the trust deed. Fifteen days prior notice is generally adequate. The chairman presides over all meetings of the board and usually enjoys a casting vote.

A trustee cannot delegate any of his duties, functions and powers to a co-trustee or any other person though, as a general rule, executive acts may be delegated. However, where a trustee has to exercise discretion, he must exercise the discretion personally and cannot delegate it.

In principle, a trustee cannot buy the property of the trust himself and he cannot sell any of his properties to the trust either - the mischief in both the cases being the likelihood of a conflict between his interest and his duties as a trustee.

Trustees, as a general rule, must administer the trust gratuitously, voluntary service being the foundation underlying all trusteeship.

b) Societies
Seven or more members of the managing committee/governing council may manage it society. A society is structurally more democratic than a trust. A society must have a general body of members with the power to vote at general body meetings, elect members of the managing committee or remove them if their performance is unsatisfactory, call for special meetings and demand examination of accounts and other records.

Members of the managing committee may hold office for such period of time as may be specified under the by-laws of the society. They may also stand for re-election.

Members of the managing committee may meet as often as required, and they must call a general body meeting once a year. Procedures regarding meetings are generally specified in the society's by-laws.

Members of the managing committee generally serve in a fiduciary capacity and usually appoint among themselves a president, secretary and treasurer.

Managing committees are usually headed by a president who chairs all meetings, a vice-president, a single secretary or joint secretaries who keep/s all records, call/s meetings, set/s agendas, keep/s minutes dated and a single or joint treasurers who handle/s all overseas accounts and financial matters.

Membership of a society may be open to either individuals or institutions or both.

A society may also offer various categories of membership (e.g., patron, institutional, associate, life and ordinary) with different fees/subscription structures and rights and privileges.

Applications for membership may be made in writing in a prescribed form and the managing committee usually reserves the right to reject any application for membership without assigning any reason.

The managing committee may also close membership (i.e., stop accepting new applications) from time to time.

The general body of members delegates the management of the day-to-day affairs of the society to the managing committee.

Issues arising at meetings of the society are usually decided by a majority of votes of the members present and in the case of equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting usually has a second or casting vote.

Societies usually lay down the minimum number of members necessary for a quorum at either the managing committee or general body meetings. It is usually the duty of the secretary to keep a record (minutes) of the various meetings.

The business at annual general meetings is usually to receive and adopt the audited statements of account, the report of the managing committee, appointing the auditor and fixing his/her remuneration, elect members of the managing committee and discuss the general work, policy and future programmes of the society.

Notice for all meetings must be sent well in advance specifying the date, time, venue and business. A meeting may be adjourned if there is no quorum.

By-laws of a society may be amended from time to time by the members of the general body.

c) Companies
The internal governance of a not-for-profit company is quite similar to that of a society.

Types Of Boards
As a general rule, there are three types of boards, especially in India, depending on individual and collective motivation:

where members are involved with a sense of commitment, purpose and direction and who consider the involvement as a responsibility taken on as a labour of love;
where members drift in routinely or by hereditary succession, on request of other "friends" on the board;
where members consider such positions as a ladder for social mobility, gaining contacts, wielding power, gaining publicity and, generally, to further their own interest.

Recent Trends
In recent years, there is a growing sense of awareness in India concerning good governance of non-profits. With increasing resources (both regional and international) and public attention, there seems to be considerable interest in the functioning of these organisations and their effectiveness. Of late, there have been many critiques and questions raised in the media by social and political commentators and from within the non-profit sector itself about the quality, effectiveness and nature of functioning of non-profits.

There are efforts to strengthen the capacity of non-profits to improve, systemize and enhance their governance mechanisms and processes through national level workshops and conferences. Some of the recommendations made at these conferences are given below.

Good boards:

have reasonable understanding and interest in the work of the organisation;
have commitment to the organisation's aims and objects;
have reasonable intelligence and competence;
comprise board members who are individually and collectively respected in the community and by all stakeholders;
have capacity for growth;
are sensitive to change and new issues affecting the community;
have the ability to work in concert with others;
stand up to individual convictions;
treat staff as partner;
respect the right of other board members and staff to differ/disagree;
dissent, if necessary, but accept with grace the majority decision or step down;
effectively mobilise and properly channelize resources.

One of the key issues in non-profit governance in India is lack of uniformity and standardization. Since 'charity' is a state and not a federal subject in India, some states have excessive regulations, while others have virtually none at all. For example, in India, in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the charity commissioner requires regular 'change reports' to be filed, as also prior permission for buying and selling of immovable property. On the other hand, the capital of the country does not have a charity commissioner. Nor do certain states in the north-east. It is therefore not surprising that in India, many new non-profits attempt to seek registration in New Delhi.

Another factor is the diversity in legal choices. One may literally choose a type that requires the least accountability. While societies and non-profit companies require a modicum of accountability with regard to annual general meetings and annual reports for members, trusts are exempt from this requirement. Also, while societies and non-profit companies require periodic rotation on boards by a process of nomination and election, trust boards are usually static. Trusteeship is usually for life and new trustees are appointed by surviving trustees.

In India, it is not uncommon to find boards that are remunerated for their service. The law generally allows 'reasonable remuneration'. However, this is an ambiguous provision, subject to contention and debate. It also raises ethical questions and debate. Boards of Northern non-profits usually provide their services gratis.

The relationship between boards and the chief executive is also an issue that merits deeper attention and understanding. Sometimes, it is the CEO who drives the organization while the board remains static and, at other times, it is the reverse. Both situations are undesirable. There should be healthy respect, communication, interaction and a system of 'check and balance'.

How Do Indian Non-Profit Boards Differ From Western Ones?
There is a higher degree of transparency and accountability among western non-profits and their boards, as compared to Indian non-profits and their boards. For example, trustees of trusts in India are not bound by law to provide copies of the trust's annual accounts and returns to stakeholders other than the registering authorities like charity commissioner, registrar of societies, home ministry, etc. Societies and non-profit companies are required by law to provide these details only to their subscribing 'members'. Obtaining these details even from the registering authorities is difficult.

On the other hand, such information is quite readily available in the North. For example, in the U.S.A., all not-for-profit organisations (except those with under $25,000 in annual gross receipts, churches and certain religious organisations) are required by law to file an information return in IRS Form 990. This is easily available from the IRS to any member of the public wanting information on any non-profit. It is also available from the Form 990 website.

Form 990 serves as the fundamental data source for not-for-profit sector research and it provides data in a relatively uniform, consistent format. Most of what we know about America's not-for-profit sector is based on information from Form 990. It covers both qualitative and quantitative data and when prepared accurately, completely and truthfully, is a treasure trove of information. Being a public report that is easily available to the public, it becomes a powerful means of ensuring and demonstrating accountability.

Boards of western non-profits also set their own "Standards for Excellence" incorporating therein the organisation's mission, vision and stated policy on 'conflict of interest', 'human resource', 'financial accountability', 'fund raising', 'public affairs' and 'public policy'. Many of these terms are unheard of among Indian non-profits, let alone their adoption as a policy for implementation.

Most western non-profits insist on a written conflict of interest policy. Board members, staff and volunteers are required to provide a 'conflict of interest' statement disclosing (at the time of joining and annually thereafter) any known financial interest which the individual or a member of the individual's immediate family has, in any business entity which transacts business with the organisation.

What Can We Learn From Corporate Boards?
An important lesson one can learn from corporate boards is the quality of reporting, transparency and timeliness of communications with shareholders. This helps the shareholder in making economic decisions and in correctly evaluating the management. The level of participation of all stakeholders determines the number of new ideas being generated in optimum utilisation.

Today, terms like 'disclosure', ‘transparency' and 'shareholder value' are buzz-words in corporate circles, thanks to international agencies like the World Bank, IMF and the OECD which insisted that improved corporate governance standards was the key to helping emerging markets rebuild competitiveness, restore investor confidence and promote sustainable economic growth. Indeed, 'disclosure', 'transparency' and 'stakeholder value' is also the key for non-profits to promote sustainable development, welfare and growth.

A number of committees on Corporate Governance (e.g., the Sir Adrian Cadbury Committee, Mervyn King's Committee, Greenbury Committee, Hampel Committee, etc.) as also the CACG Guidelines, have suggested policies for improved corporate governance.

Many of these recommendations and guidelines are relevant to non-profits as well, e.g.,

chairman to be separate from chief executive;
non-executive directors to bring an independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy;
audit committee to have minimum three members, written terms of reference and authority to investigate;
service contracts of executive directors not to exceed three years and pay to be subject to recommendations of remuneration committee;
observance of highest level of business and professional ethics;
accounting standards in line with international standards;
ensure that the organisation communicates effectively with all stakeholders;
ensure that no one person or block of persons has unfettered power and that there is an appropriate balance of power and authority on the board;
regularly review processes and procedures to ensure the effectiveness of its internal systems of control, so that its decision-making capability and the accuracy of its reporting and financial results are maintained at a high level, at all times;
regularly assess performance and effectiveness as a whole and that of the individual directors, including the CEO;
appoint the chief executive officer and at least participate in the appointment of senior management, ensure the motivation and protection of intellectual capital intrinsic to the organisation, ensure that there is adequate training in the organisation for management and employees and a succession plan for senior management;
identify key risk areas and key performance indicators of the enterprise and monitor these factors.

Governance vs. Management
Clearly, boards of non-profits must learn to:
GOVERN (macro - manage) MORE and
MANAGE (micro - manage, i.e., day-to-day routine affairs) LESS.

January 2005 Noshir H. Dadrawala
Executive Secretary
Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy

]]><![CDATA[Diaspora Indians On The Philanthropy Fast-Track]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:18:28 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/diaspora-indians-on-the-philanthropy-fast-track

Priya Viswanath, pp. 260, Rs. 295, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

This book celebrates Indians who care about India in a very special way!
I am most grateful to:
Noshir Dadrawala, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy who had the faith and vision to support this pioneering effort. Noshir has been more than supportive and he has also been a staunch friend and patient observer of the many trials faced in the writing of the book. Working with the Centre has been one of the best experiences of my life!

My co-consultants, who wrote the Far & Middle East chapters, Shyamala Shiveshwarkar and Renita Mascarenhas. Shyamala travelled, networked tirelessly and accessed the Diaspora in four countries and documented their efforts painstakingly. Renita worked under very difficult circumstances. Post September 11, 2001, people in the Middle East region were hesitant to speak about Philanthropy. I owe much to them for their contribution.

Research Associates, Kamini Karlekar in the UK and Surya Prakash Loonker who facilitated all my meetings; Ritika Prasad in India who painstakingly reviewed all the literature and for months worked with me on the institutional profiles and brainstormed endlessly about formats, fonts and page set ups! Shivani Chandra who conducted the initial literature reviews and several co-consultants at CATALYST who acted as great sounding boards in the initial phase.

Malavika Karlekar who guided and advised me right through the project and of course who has had to deal with three writers and their different styles and research methods ... this could by no means have been easy. As always no book is ever "ready to go" without the best editorial inputs and she has been just the best! I am deeply indebted to her for taking this up despite her own schedules and books that are in various stages of production.

Many agencies, institutional heads, friends in the Far & Middle East, UK, US and our Embassies and High Commissions in all regions were more than helpful in linking us up with Diaspora groups, key millionaires and hosting us in their homes. It is impossible to thank each of them individually, but our gratitude knows no bounds. Anup Nair, Deepa Wadhwa, Amar Sinha, Anita Nayar, Purvez Shroff, Ashok Kantha, Udita & Roberto Ripa, Bindu & Praful Chanderia, Jay & Nalini Mansukhani, Gopal Baglay, Navin Joshi, Netika Raval, Nilanjana & Bob Van Order, Harish Patel, Mark Sidel and Mayur Ghelani however deserve a very special mention.

I am deeply indebted to Gururaj Deshpande for reading through the manuscript at such short notice and contributing a thought provoking and insightful foreword. I am also grateful to L.M. Singhvi for his message on Diaspora philanthropy, despite his preoccupation with the organisation of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. To my dear friend and colleague, Shahnaz Taplin for sharing her perspectives both as an NRI and a fellow Diaspora researcher.

A special thanks to Hufriz Daruwalla and Jiji George at Union Press for the numerous revisions, the staff at CAP and also Biju Thomas who worked several nights with us on layout of the book cover.

To all the relationships it fostered, to all the networks built, to my family and friends who never saw me months on end and yet never gave up on me through the many delays; to Abha and Bill Adams, Ashok Nagpal, Raju Panjwani, David Cohen, Deepika Erasmus, Kamini Prakash, Preethi Viswanath and Rahul Gupta who kept pushing me through some very dark days and who saw me through many ups and downs; I am extremely grateful.
To all the NRIs who gave us their time and shared their wisdom, dreams, aspirations and even frustrations ... Thank You!

Priya Viswanath
March 2003
Gurgaon, India

]]><![CDATA[Guide to The Accounting Function]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:41:01 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/guide-to-the-accounting-function

Freddy R. Daruwala & Sharukh N. Tara, pp. 152, Rs. 100, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

The need for a handbook to understand the accounting function, especially with regard to voluntary/not-for-profit organizations in India, was felt for a long time.

Keeping proper accounts is not only a statutory requirement under the various laws affecting voluntary organizations, but also a requisite for enhancing credibility in the eyes of all stakeholders.

Financial reports can never give the complete picture of a voluntary organization's operations, effectiveness and accomplishments. However, if prepared accurately and truthfully, it can go a long way in achieving that goal.

Today, voluntary organizations are required to prepare financial statements for a diverse cross-section of stakeholders - donors, government agencies, governing boards and the public at large.

The treasurer/financial controller/chief accountant of a voluntary organization generally assumes four important accounting responsibilities:

ensure proper and accurate maintenance of all financial records;
prudently budget and anticipate financial problems;
judiciously safeguard and monitor the organization's financial assets and investments;
effectively comply with various central and state reporting requirements.

Fortunately, today, Information Technology offers voluntary organizations the cutting edge for improving efficiency and effectiveness of accounting and financial reporting. It is recommended that even small to medium size voluntary organizations should take advantage of available technology to ensure accurate and efficient operation of accounting and financial reporting systems.

Modern accounting software allows the user to maintain transaction files from which all the month-end, year-to-date and year-end journals, ledgers, trial balances and other financial reports can be generated. These accounting programmes typically require the user to code transactions according to a chart of accounts - rather than posting or recording transactions in a separate journal or ledger for each account, as is done in manual bookkeeping.

Typically, the software uses the coding to post transactions to the appropriate accounts. Most software programmes automatically double-code single transactions and thus automatically perform double-entry bookkeeping.

The basic purpose of financial statements is to tell the "financial story" of the organization: how and for what purposes the resources were mobilized and spent? What efforts were exerted and what was accomplished with the resources? Users of these statements also need to know and assess the financial health of the organization. How financially viable is the organization? What is the likelihood of its financial sustainability?

The authors, Freddy R. Daruwala and Sharukh N. Tara, deserve hearty congratulations for their effort in preparing this Guide in a style that is easy to comprehend. It is a valuable resource for all those involved with the financial accounting of voluntary organizations.

Special thanks are due to Mr. R.R. Chari, Commissioner of Income Tax (Retd.), for his valuable guidance and input for this book.

The Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy is dedicated to building capacity and enhancing the effectiveness of all philanthropic organizations in the country through its consultancy services, publications and training programmes. This Guide is yet another publication to assist voluntary/not-for-profit organizations understand the accounting function.

The publication of this book has been possible thanks to a generous grant from the Ford Foundation.

Noshir H. Dadrawala
Executive Secretary
Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy

]]><![CDATA[Social Work Education in India]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:23:24 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-work-education-in-india

Dr. Ramesh B. et,al., pp. 358, Rs. 300, Tumkur University

The Department of Studies and Research in Social Work, Tumkur University has been doing an excellent work in teaching, research and extension activities. The present book titled Social Work Education in India: Issues and Concerns illustrates the academic commitment of the Department.

The achievements of Social Work profession in India are highly praiseworthy. It has firmly established itself as a highly sought-after career in India, and its beneficial results are there for everyone to see. Much progress has been achieved in the recent past in terms of raising the standards of Social Work education, practice and research. The profession has been an active agent in bringing about qualitative changes in society. It is my firm conviction that social work education has the potential for achieving the desired results. I believe the present book is an exercise in that direction. I am quite impressed by the in-depth analysis of various facets of Social Work Education here. The book, in my opinion, definitely serves as a ready reference for teachers and researchers in the field of Social Work. I congratulate the Editorial Team for bringing out this scholarly work on Social Work Education in India.

Dr. S.C. Sharma
Vice Chancellor
Tumkur University, Tumkur

]]><![CDATA[The Art of Successful Fund Raising]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:02:47 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/the-art-of-successful-fund-raising

Noshir H. Dadrawala, pp. 212, Rs. 300, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

My involvement with various philanthropic institutions began with fund raising. In fact, I even owe my present involvement with the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy (CAP) to fund raising. As Project Manager of a development institution in Mumbai, I had approached the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust for a grant to support a community project. In the process of securing the grant, I came in touch with Mr. R.M. Lala, Director of the Trust. In the year 1986 when he, along with other leading lights like the Late Mr. H.T. Parekh, Mr. R.R. Chari, Mr. D.M. Forbes and others, launched CAP, I was invited to join as its first Executive Secretary.

Booker Washington in 'Up From Slavery' writes, "While the work of going from door to door and from office to office is hard, disagreeable and costly in bodily strength, it has some compensations... It (also) has its compensations in giving one an opportunity to meet some of the best people in the world."

I dare say, if I were not a fund raiser, I perhaps would not have met Mr. Lala (and so many other interesting people) and perhaps would not have been involved with CAP and writing this book.

Personally, 1 find fund raising to be a satisfying and challenging task in the field of philanthropy. It provides tremendous opportunity for unleashing one's creative energies and meeting all kinds of interesting and eminent people.

When 1 entered the field of philanthropy more than two decades ago I was very young, a stranger both to the field and the community. My only qualifications as a fund raiser were good intentions and the willingness to experiment and learn. I neither had a guru (master), nor friends who were professional fund raisers. I was absolutely on my own.

I still remember the first time I visited a corporate office in connection with securing a grant for a community project. I left my residence in the morning humming, 'I have confidence in me…..", sat in the visitors' lobby, anxious and edgy, haunted with thoughts of being insulted, being called a beggar or much worse. Ten minutes later, I left the office without meeting anyone, guilt and depression writ large over my face.

The second time it was different. I approached someone I knew, someone with whom I could talk comfortably. The strategy, too, was different. I was primarily apprising the person of the work my institute was doing. Whether he would support the cause or not was secondary. I returned that day with a cheque towards the project and the names of five other persons who, according to my first donor, would be inclined to support the project. He even agreed to give me a letter of introduction. The five windows he opened for me set up a chain reaction, taking me off on a long voyage of discovery and growth.

Ever since, I have been guided by two fundamental principles (both being my own) in my occasional fund raising drives:

never approach a potential donor with the prime intention of securing a grant; apprise the person of the good work being carried out, arouse his/her interest and stir him/her to do something about it;
never leave a donor's office or home without securing new 'contacts' and 'references'; he/she may not be able to give a donation, but he/she could suggest names of individuals or institutions that could.

My modest work in the field of fund raising not only brought me some recognition, but also enabled me to build a wide network of friends and well-wishers. Far from being insulted or rebuked, I have often been patted on the back and treated in the most courteous manner by many a donor. I could say this without the slightest hesitation that if I would not have overcome my initial fears and embarrassment and decided to remain stuck to a dull, routine desk job requiring the least bit of social interaction, I would not have made much progress in my career.

In my opinion, fund raising is fun. It helps one to understand human nature and study behavioural patterns of all kinds of people in the laboratory of day-to-day fieldwork. There is also tremendous scope for cultivating qualities of courage, leadership, patience, persistence and understanding. As far as targets (and the challenge in meeting them) are concerned, the sky is the limit. There can hardly be a dull moment for a creative and enterprising fund raiser.

'The Art of Fund Raising' was first published in 1992 and all the copies printed were sold out within about a year's time. A revised and enlarged edition was long overdue. Having put pen to paper, once again, my mind keenly traversing the field of fund raising, I find there is a lot more I'd like to say on this subject than I did, more than a decade ago. I am confident this work will also be received just as warmly and enthusiastically as the previous one.

As always, I am grateful to the Chairman, Mr. R.M. Lala, and the Board of Directors of the Centre, particularly Mr. R.R. Chari, for encouraging and supporting all my literary initiatives.

I would also like to express and place on record my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. Kathleen D. McCarthy, Director, Center for the Study of Philanthropy, New York, for giving me the opportunity, in 1990, to acquire specialized training and experience in fund raising as practised in the U.S.A.; to Mr. Russy D. Sumariwalla, Senior Fellow, United Way Strategic Institute, U.S.A., for inviting me to Washington D.C. in June 1991 to participate in the United Way Systems Course and gain valuable insights into the working of this premier fund raising institution; to my friend, Mr. Vijay Rangan, a certified fund raiser in the U.S.A., for providing me with valuable resource material on the subject.

Special thanks to Union Press for their excellent printing and last, but not the least, I am grateful to my able colleague, Mrs. Yasmin F. Daruwala, for her assistance in the layout and proofreading of this book.

Noshir H. Dadrawala
P.S.: In fund raising, you need a lot of luck, The harder you work, the luckier you get.

]]><![CDATA[Merchants of Philanthropy]]>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 10:55:50 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/merchants-of-philanthropy

Noshir H. Dadrawala, pp. 132, Rs. 150, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword to Noshir H. Dadrawala's new book, 'Merchants of Philanthropy'. On many occasions in the past, Noshir and I have discussed the necessity of having just such a book, the main objective being to inspire and motivate others in industry to develop into "Merchants of Philanthropy".

In a country like ours, industry offers a unique infrastructure where both talented, educated manpower and financial and other essential resources co-exist. We need to realize the special position we are in, looking outside our comfortable environments and reaching out to the millions of less fortunate around us.

The concept of corporate social responsibility has emerged as an increasingly essential part of most organizations' overall business philosophy. A company that is sensitive to the community and environs in which it operates, and to the needs of the people living there not only creates goodwill for itself but simultaneously assists in strengthening, in a myriad of ways, the neighbourhood and its inhabitants.

The thought exists in the mind of many of us in business that Corporate Social Responsibility is the prerogative of only large business groups and houses; nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone of us can make a difference - whether one is a 'small' entrepreneur running the corner shop at the end of the street or whether one is the CEO of the largest business group in the country. The ability is within us all to make that positive change, whether large or small, happen.

My hope is that this book will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, enabling the reader to take that first important step forward and assist in impacting the lives of the less fortunate around us.

I wish Noshir much success and look forward to the next edition with many more profiles covered.

Rati Forbes
Chairperson
CII Social Development Cell
(Western region)

]]><![CDATA[Modern Perspectives on Social Work]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 13:20:18 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/modern-perspectives-on-social-work

Anand Sirohi, pp. 404, Rs. 2500, Dominant Publishers. (Three Volume Set)

A welfare State is committed to the social, economic and intellectual betterment of its citizens. It sets up institutions, establishes organisations and facilitates all other endeavours in this direction. The entire range of social welfare becomes a prime responsibility of the State and its various establishments. The policies and plans meant for the benefit of all classes of citizens extend over social welfare, social defence, social reconstruction, social rehabilitation, social insurance and several other areas. The very complex character of the nature and dimensions of the processes, procedures and authorities necessary for the effective implementation of projects and schemes makes it a herculean task for the government as well as the implementing authority.

Perhaps the most prevalent and persistent problem is that of corruption. Rajiv Gandhi once said that of every rupee intended for the benefit of the poor, only fifteen paise reached him. Other inevitable hazards are mismanagement, physical bottlenecks, improper monitoring of ground-level activities, lack of coordination with voluntary organisations and work in gender-sensitive areas such as flesh trade, crimes against women, domestic violence and child labour. The story of the inefficiencies of the public distribution system in India is too well-known as an example of a welfare scheme that should not be emulated. Other segments too require urgent attention.

The present three-volume publication focuses on the structure and systems in place for the administration of all social welfare programmes in India. It provides a comprehensive overview of the entire range of social welfare schemes, institutions, modalities, policies, parameters and machinery involved in the activities, from the earliest times to the present day. In carefully structured information, it covers theory and concept, and practice for the beneficiaries. While the volumes together will undoubtedly prove to be valuable basic material for all research scholars, sociologists, social workers and policy makers, the individual volumes will be of particular interest in view of the specific subjects they cover. Of special interest is the volume on underprivileged and marginal communities, including tribes, minorities, child labour and sex workers. The categorisation of measures for the welfare of youth, children, elderly, handicapped, ex-servicemen and ex-prisoners will be of much use to concerned groups. The role of voluntary organisations and an international perspective are also valuable features.

Anand Sirohi

]]><![CDATA[Ideologies and Social Work]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 13:17:08 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/ideologies-and-social-work

Murli Desai, pp. 236, Rs. 550, Rawat Publications

Development of resources for social work education such as subject curricula and methodology of social work education is one of the major activities of the Social Work Education and Practice Cell, that aims at strengthening of social work education in India. A Subject Curriculum Series for Social Work Education is, therefore, initiated with this book.

This book on Ideologies and Social Work is prepared as an outcome of preparation for teaching the course on the History and Philosophy of Social Work to first year students of MA in Social Work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), since 1993. It attempts to add to the much needed literature in the field as the last book on the subject was published by A.R. Wadia in 1961. It will be useful for the 125 institutions of social work education in India, each of which offers this subject. The Model Curriculum on Social Work Education by the University Grants Commission (2001) lists two subjects: Social Work History and Ideologies and Contemporary Ideologies for Social Work in the core domain of social work education.

This book uses the term 'ideologies' in the title instead of 'philosophy'. Philosophy is a form of inquiry or study of the mysteries of existence and reality through a process analysis, criticism, interpretation and speculation (Feibleman, 1986). Ideology resembles philosophy, but it is a system of thought based on related assumptions, beliefs and explanations that imply inevitability of choice, choice unsupported by reason, and its urgency (Hunt, 1978). It is the ideologies, rather than the philosophies, that seem to have influenced social change and, therefore, social work. It is the history of ideologies that helps us understand the roots of the contemporary reality, including the roots of the profession of social work. In social work, one uses the terms 'approaches' to convey differences in the forms of intervention. These approaches also can be understood better with reference to the ideologies that influence them.

The concepts of history, ideology and social work are organised in a conceptual framework, in order to analyse as well as make comparisons across social work approaches. The history of origin and development of an ideology or social work approach is first examined in its sociological/cultural/political/economic context. While linking different ideologies, the critique and implications of the previous ideology/approach are also examined, as these are often the context for a new ideology/approach to emerge. The construct of ideology of an approach comprises of the perception of people and of social problems, the ideals and the ethics, status of the benefactors and their motives for being benefactors, their goals for social change, their approach to social change/intervention, and their relation with the beneficiaries.

Besides the introductory chapter on conceptual framework and curriculum planning, the typescript is divided into six curriculum modules. These modules are arranged to undertake a critical inquiry into the Western history of ideologies before the Indian history of ideologies, as the former has influenced the latter since the modern age. Similarly, the history of ideologies of social change is examined before the history of ideologies of social work profession as the latter developed in the context of the former. The contemporary ideologies for social change and social work are then discussed in the context of globalisation. The methodology of education that is suggested aims at exploring and understanding one's own set of beliefs, based on one's socialisation.

A vast amount of relevant literature is available in the disciplines of sociology, political science, history, philosophy and social work, on each of these modules and on many of the topics within each module. It has been a mammoth task to identify the relevant matter and present it in a language that is succinct and digestible to students, at the risk of oversimplifying the matter. While carrying out this task, the overall purpose and context of social work education and the varied disciplinary backgrounds of social work students have been kept in mind. I must say that organising knowledge for teaching this subject has been a most gratifying experience for me. Understanding the history of ideologies for social change has helped me understand the roots of social problems of today, the limitations of the ideologies of professional social work to deal with them as well as directions for the profession in the contemporary times.

I take this opportunity to thank my co-teachers for this course, Ms. Jeroo Billimoria, Prof. Vimla Nadkarni and Mr. Parth Sarthi Mondal, for their suggestions and encouragement for this book. The course plan was reviewed in a small group as a part of the MA programme in social work at the Institute. While the book was being prepared, I presented several papers based on it at national and international seminars. The discussion that followed helped me to enrich the modules further. Most of all, every batch of students whom I taught, taught me how to teach the next batch better. I dedicate this compendium to these students. I immensely thank Prof. P.D. Kulkarni for writing a foreword to this book. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the suggestions made by Prof. R.R. Singh, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences for his suggestions to further enrich the typescript. I hope that departments of applied social sciences as well as schools of social work will find this book useful for reference for their curriculum planning and students will find it useful for studying the course.

Murli Desai
Professor and Head
Social Work Education and Practice Cell
Tata Institute of Social Sciences

]]><![CDATA[Scientific Writing and Publishing in Social Work]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 13:12:01 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/scientific-writing-and-publishing-in-social-work

Ilango Ponnuswami, Abraham P. Francis, Nonie Harris, pp. XIV+226=240, Rs. 850, Niruta Publications

The context
As a visiting scholar of The Cairns Institute, Professor Ilango Ponnuswami from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India had the opportunity in 2012 to work and collaborate with staff of Cairns Institute as well as social work academics of James Cook University(JCU) in North Queensland, Australia. These collaborations led to recognition that many of the challenges and dilemmas of scientific writing and publicationwere relevant to both the Indian and Australian contexts and that a meaningful cross-national collaboration would potentially enrich the learning experiences of students and staff in both locations. Subsequently the editors of this book, Professor Ponnuswami, and Dr Francis and Dr Harris from JCU, conducted a three day residential Scientific Writing and Publication Workshop (in January 2013), for social work faculty members and research scholars, at the Karl Kubel Institute of Development Education (KKID) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. This book is a tangible outcome of this international, academic collaboration and, most importantly, is the result of the KKID participants’ scientific writing endeavors begunat the 2013 workshop in Coimbatore.

This international collaboration directly aligns with James Cook University’s Faculty of Arts Education and Social Sciences’ (FAESS) Faculty Plan. The Plan specifically commits the Faculty to activities and endeavors that “increase links with other Universities in the tropics and encourage staff and student collaboration and exchange” (PC2.3). The international collaborative activity and publication outcome also align with the JCU’s commitment to creating a brighter future for life in the tropics through a project that contributes to “the experience of new cultures, particularly … a new educational culture, [and] is also an opportunity for some creative thinking about how new knowledges are formed and generated” (McGinty, Koo and Saedi, 2010, p. 518).

Research and Writing in Social Work
As social work educators we, the editors, shared a common belief that the activities of research, writing and publication are fundamental to who we are as social work practitioners and that it is an incredible privilege to be involved in the process of creating knowledge – which is what the research and writing processes allow us to do. We recognize that social work practice is changing and that research is now an integral part of practice. The need for practitioners to be able to engage in researchis becoming more important both for clients, organizations and communities. We should assume that research and practice are not mutually exclusive and that as practitioners committed to social justice and human rights, we are also researchers (and writers and publishers) who embrace these same commitments.

The Australian Association of Social Workers states that: ‘Research is key to the continued development of the theory and knowledge base of social work practice’ (2008, p. 6). This professional practice standard emphasises the importance of the creation of an evidence base to inform our practice; that as social work practitioners we continue to monitor and evaluate what we do in a structured way; and that through these processes we are accountable for the quality and effectiveness of our practice. Practitioners also need to undertake research to determine the needs of clients, to test new ideas and to confirm practice wisdom. Research underlies the accomplishment of all of these expectations. However, as McMahon (2008) reminds us, undertaking research although important, is not sufficient- “doing research is a process of self-empowerment for the individual researcher but empowerment can begin and end with the individual unless the message gets published and broadcast to the wider context” (McMahon, 2008, p. 49). Giving written voice to our knowledge should be our priority.

References
1.Australian Association of Social Workers.(2008). AASW practice standards for social workers. Canberra: AASW.
2.Faculty of Arts Education and Social Sciences.(2012). Faculty triennium plan 2013 – 2015. Townsville, Australia: James Cook University.
3.McGinty, S., Koo, Y. and Saeidi, M. (2010).A Cross-country Study on Research Students’ Perceptions of the Role of Supervision and Cultural Knowledge in Thesis Development. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 14: 5, 517-531.
4.McMahon, A. (2008). From Consumers to Creators: The Importance of Getting Your Work Published. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian IndigenousIssues.32, 37-50.

Ilango Ponnuswami
Professor and Head, Department of Social Work, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abraham Francis
Lecturer, Department of Social Work and Human Services, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.

Nonie Harris
Senior Lecturer, Department of Social Work and Human Services, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.

Scientific Writing Book
File Size:	181 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 10:59:53 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/frequently-asked-questions-faq

Noshir H. Dadrawala, pp. 72, Rs. 300, Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy Publication

Over the past 26 years the Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy has advised and assisted hundreds of trusts, societies and companies in matters related to charity laws, tax exemptions and deductions and receipt of foreign contributions. The Centre's newsletter 'Philanthropy' has also been responding to various queries from members. We have observed that some of these queries fall within the domain of 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ).

Over the years, it has been our constant endeavor to build capacity for the voluntary sector through various training programs and bringing out informative publications which can serve as a quick and easy to understand reference guide. This resource book is yet another addition to a long series of CAP's publications.

As usual, this book has been written keeping the layperson in mind. However, professionals would also find it to be of value. Devoid of legal jargon and written with clarity and depth, this book should be on the bookshelf of every NGO/NPO seeking ready answers to common questions pertaining to the Bombay Public Trusts Act, Income Tax Act and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

It is said that the true worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. One thing stands certain, anyone who reads this book will carry away a wealth of information and a deeper insight into the legal nuances of managing a charitable or not-for-profit organization in India.

]]><![CDATA[Change and Development in Lambani Society]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 10:36:05 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/change-and-development-in-lambani-society

Dr. C.R. Gopal, pp. 260, Rs. 250, IBH Prakashana

This book "Change and Development in Lambani Society" is the abridged form of my thesis submitted to the Bangalore University for the award of Ph.D. Degree. While I was functioning as project Co-ordinator (1982-85), in the welfare project for artisans [Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra] of the company - [The Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Limited] wherein I am working, I was Co-ordinating training and production activities in crafts like stone carving, wood carving, cane and bamboo works, doll making, khadi spinning and weaving in addition to mirror and embroidery (lambani craft). During this period I had the opportunity to acquaint myself more with the life style and craft of Lambanis. This, in subsequent years, has motivated me to takeup the present study. I am indebted to the Bangalore University for having given me the opportunity to conduct the study.

Various Governments, after independence, have introduced a good number of development schemes, programmes for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. The special component plan (SCP) is the most important one worked out for the purpose, which started in 1980-81. An attempt is made in the present study to assess the impact of the SCP on the Lambani tribal community in Bellary District by adopting a descriptive - diagnostic design.

I feel highly obliged to Dr. H.M. Marulasiddaiah, Rtd. Professor and the Head of the Department of Social Work, Bangalore University, Bangalore, under whose guidance I completed my research work. He helped me at every stage of the process. Now, he is kind enough to write a foreword for this book. I have received generous encouragement from Dr. M.Y. Ghorpade, Former Minister for Rural Development and Panchayath Raj, Govt. of Karnataka and Former Chairman and Managing Director of M/s The Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Limited. I owe a deep sence of gratitude to him.

Dr. C.S. Kedar, Smt. Gowri Trivedi, the Dy. Commissioners, Bellary and Dr. Rajkumar Khatri, CEO, Zilla Panchayath, Bellary had permitted me to collect data from the government officials including bank officials required for the study. I feel very much indebted to all of them.

Sri S.R. Sreedhar, the Chief General Manager (Mines), Sri. K. Raman, Financial Controller and Sri. N.S. Murthy, Former Dy. General Manager (Admn), The Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Limited, Deogiri, have encouraged me and supported me periodically for successful completion of my research project. My special thanks are due to all of these personalities.

Sri. K.M. Rudraiah, Sri. Indusekhar, Sri. Peer Mohammed helped me a lot in collecting the data. Sri. P. Ravi, Smt. S. Padmini and Kumari Anjana helped me out in getting the entire thesis computerized. I thank each one of them. I also thank Smt. Jayashree Gopal, my wife, for her moral support throughout.

I will fail in my duty if I forget to mention about the respondents; Lambani Beneficiaries, Lambani Leaders, District/Middle/Taluk/Village Level Government Officials, Bank Officials for their hearty co-operation in collection of the data. My sincere thanks to all of them.

I express my sincere gratitude to Sri. Sanjay Adiga, IBH Prakashana, Bangalore who has come forward to publish this book of an unknown author.

Dr. C.R. Gopal

]]><![CDATA[Social Development]]>Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:56:15 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-development

M.S. Gore, pp. 398, Rs. 675, Rawat Publications

This book brings together some of my papers published earlier in two separate books entitled Some Aspects of Social Development (1973) and Social Aspects of Development (1985).

Initially, social work curricula did not have much content dealing directly with social development. In fact, the word 'development' was used for many years to refer primarily to economic development. This might seem surprising since, in India, the idea of conscious efforts at development began with the projects initiated by William Myers in Uttar Pradesh in the early 1950s which were called Community Development Projects. But, the emphasis was on introducing progressive methods of agriculture and other economic activities with a view to raise the living standards of the rural population. These projects were experimental in nature and naturally few in number. The Ford Foundation had supported these projects and soon they attracted the attention of the Government of India.

When the government entered the field they extended the number to some 50 odd projects spread over different states in the country. Soon, there was a demand for extension of these projects to all states. A somewhat diluted version of these projects, called the National Extension Projects, was introduced and extended to many more districts in the form of specially carved-out 'development blocks'. Persons deputed from the Revenue Department largely headed these projects. This was natural since they were the ones closest to the rural areas and had adequate rural administrative experience. But it was soon realised that the traditional administrative approach was not best suited to nurture developmental projects in which the people's initiative was at the core of the experiment. One needed people who could elicit this initiative.

It was also perceived that an exclusive focus on agricultural or economic activity was self-defeating. All other economic activities needed to be attended. It was further realised that if villagers were to be involved in the development activity, they needed to be better informed about the projects as well as their own problems and how to cope with them. It was also appreciated that economic developmental efforts could not go far without positive action in the fields of health and education.

The awareness that the fast rate of growth of the country's population would nullify the benefits of any growth in the economy brought in another important dimension that showed that a near exclusive focus on economic goals would not achieve the goals set for development and that the community as a whole and its social life aspects needed to be attended to.

The concept of social development as different from economic development arose out of the many discussions at the annual national conferences on Community Development and National Extension Projects as also out of the discussions in many international meetings under United Nations auspices.

The schools of social work had been uncomfortable with the exclusive emphasis on economic goals right from the beginning but their voice began to be heard only after wider opinion had come to realise the futility of a wholly economic development effort. But, the schools of social work had difficulty in defining what role exactly the social workers could play in the community development effort. Their graduates would be too young and relatively inexperienced in administration to occupy the post of the Block Development Officer and there was for some time no other post where they could utilise their social expertise. Some of them took up the posts of Social Education Officers but the role of this officer remained vague for a long time and there was often frustration among those who occupied these positions.

The schools of social work were themselves trying to ascertain what role they could play in this newly identified field of social development. They had to define what social development meant and what role social workers could play to promote such development. They had to think of what new courses they would need to formulate and what fieldwork experience they could provide to their students to make them useful. Social work itself was traditionally relief and rehabilitation oriented and focused on the specially disadvantaged sections of the community, except in the area of community development. Social or community development as a national programme required that they learn about the needs of the community in general and identify areas, where they could be useful. The Indian Association of Schools of Social Work, as also the International Association of Schools of Social Work, held many meetings to clarify and work out a role for social work in the broader field of social development.

Many of the papers brought together here were prepared for these national and international meetings and deal with the effort to build a bridge between social work and social development.

But I was myself interested in the broader philosophy of social development and its linkages with the concept of human rights and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The United Nations were also concerned about defining the scope of social rights as different from political or civil rights of an individual. The International Council of Social Work held a special meeting at Helsinki on the subject of human rights.

There are altogether 19 papers in this book. It is possible that there is some repetition of views between papers since they were written for different audiences at different times.

As I wrote these papers I was trying to clarify my own ideas on several themes and there was in my mind certain tentativeness about my views. Not all the papers deal with social development as a concept. Some of the papers deal with different aspects of the process of development and with the different groups in the population that need to be mobilised. One continuing concern in writing these was how this field was relevant to social work practice.

It is not unlikely that what I have said in some of my papers is not any longer a new perspective. But these subjects were very much discussed and formed a part of the discussion on social work and social development when I was active in the field. In the 1950s and 1960s community development was at the core of many discussions, whereas in the 1970s family planning and family welfare had moved to the centre stage. Today, it is the right of the underprivileged groups to fight for equity that holds attention. But all these are part of the broader field of social development and still have a relevance. I am also aware that there is a counter-perspective to the very concept of development. The South American sociologists, who argued that the concept of development as visualised by the capitalist world is itself exploitative, articulated it best. I have not dealt with it directly. But my preoccupation has been with discussing and elaborating the concept of development in a liberal society which recognises that inequities exist and is concerned with how to minimise them and what role social workers can play in it.

M.S. Gore

]]><![CDATA[AGEING IN AN INDIAN CITY]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:13:02 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/ageing-in-an-indian-city

T.K. Nair, pp. 166, Rs. 200, Eeswaar Books

The increasing elderly population in India raises many questions. How will we, and the future generations, deal with the challenges posed by the aging of our population? Can it be ensured that growing old will not mean, for the majority, a further sliding down into poverty and dependency? How can families be supported and strengthened so that they can provide good quality of care to the older members? How can the elderly be empowered to look after themselves effectively? Systematic planning and action are needed at the national and state levels particularly in the areas of health care, housing, income security, education and welfare in responding to the needs of the elderly.

The International Plan of Action on Aging formulated by the World Assembly on Aging in 1982 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly made, among others, the following recommendation to national governments:

Governments and non-governmental bodies should be encouraged to establish social services to support the whole family when there are elderly people at home and to implement measures especially for low-income families who wish to keep elderly people at home.

The Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging and the Political Declaration adopted at the Second World Assembly on Aging in April 2002 marked an important landmark in the global approach to aging. The Plan has three priority areas: older persons and development; health and well-being; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.

Population aging in India has, of late, drawn the attention of the policy framers of the country. A National Policy on Older Persons (NPOP) with many promises was announced in 1999. But the elected political leadership has shown least interest in implementing the policy, possibly because the older voters have not yet become a vote bank. The implementation or non-implementation of the policy is left to the discretion of the bureaucracy. The priority for the elderly is low and there is serious conviction deficit among those who matter in implementing the NPOP. The NPOP contains pro-family rhetoric and promises of health care initiatives for the elderly. Non-governmental organizations were assured of transparency, simplification of procedures and timely release of grants. But a policy document cannot alter the bureaucratic practices of decades. A social welfare department official of the government of Tamilnadu told The Hindu in August 2010 that the schemes of the government of India for senior citizens elicited poor response from the NGOs. Most of the older persons are at the receiving end of the service delivery system and programmes are often developed without the participation of the elderly themselves. The older persons are treated as recipients and not as participants. Unless there is a change in mindset among the political and bureaucratic establishments, the NPOP will remain only a paper policy.

Fast GDP growth does not mean anything to the vast majority of the elderly as former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has recently commented sarcastically that the GDP growth of 94 per cent of the Indians is only 0.94 per cent. A government that watches millions starve while tonnes of food grains rot cannot be expected to respond effectively to the needs of the elderly whose collective voice is feeble. Exasperated by the continued apathy of the state and central governments, a joint action committee of senior citizens observed August 16, 2010 as the National Protest Day to “stir up the conscience of our rulers and the society”, taking a cue from the warning of the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan: “Senior citizens, in spite of their number, collective wisdom and experience, will continue to be ignored and marginalized unless they unite”.

A Personal Note
“People don’t grow old When they stop growing, they become old” - Anonymous

My parents “never grew old”, though they grew older. My mother lived 89 years and my father 73 years. Both of them were active till their last days. I was born in a village – Thiruvattar – in the erstwhile Travancore state nearly seventy five years ago. It was a typical village: no electricity, no bus service, no school or doctor nearby…. At the same time, there was fresh air to breathe and perennial flow of water in the river. My father was a creative artist and his oil paintings were popular. I was the only surviving child to my parents . From the age of sixteen I had to be separated from my parents for college education and subsequently for employment. Finally, I became a permanent resident of Chennai. My parents never liked to leave our village. But they immensely missed me. The only compensation for the separation was the occasional visits that I used to make with my wife and children to meet my father and mother. After the demise of my father, my mother joined us at Chennai because of persistent persuasion. But she was never happy with the constricting life in the city. This book on the situation of the elderly is my humble tribute to my parents.

I learnt the first lessons of social work from Prof. K.N.George at the Madras School of Social Work. For more than four decades, he was Director of the institution. He gave me the opportunity to direct two major research studies on older people. I am beholden to Prof. George.

Prof.K.V.Ramana (formerly Vice - Chancellor of Andhra University) has always been my well-wisher. A well- known professor of social work and a distinguished social scientist, he has been particular that all social work teachers should pursue doctoral research. He motivated me to work on a topic of significance in elder care – community care of the elderly – for my doctoral dissertation. I am deeply indebted to Prof.Ramana.

As policies of the government are often not based on sound data base, it was difficult to answer queries of the elderly respondents regarding the purpose of the surveys. Many older respondents were either cynical or indifferent. On the whole the two surveys in Chennai city, the findings of which are discussed in this book, could be carried out successfully and I am grateful to the elderly men and women for sharing their views.

I have postponed completion of this book many a time due to many unforeseen circumstances. Finally my daughter Minii’s persistence and support enabled me to complete this task. She did the typesetting of the manuscript and helped in retrieving necessary information from the internet sources. My fifteen - year old granddaughter Reena also helped me.

My wife Thankam and I grew older together for nearly fifty years. She never complained when I kept myself busy with many of my academic and social work activities. Whether sickness or surgery, she always remained calm and confident. She is a symbol of “aging gracefully”.

Chennai
March 2011 T.K.Nair

]]><![CDATA[CORPORATES AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:08:43 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/corporates-and-social-responsibility1

K.N. Ajith, pp. 144, Rs. 150, Eeswaar Books

Corporate dominance of global trade is neither new nor recent. Students of India’s history know that the East India Company was indeed a global trading corporation, chartered in December 1600 by Queen Elizabeth I to expand colonial markets. The Company quickly established military and administrative control over territories in India to dominate trade, especially in opium, tea, cotton, silk, and spices. In fact, English imperialism in India began as a form of corporate colonialism that lasted for 100 years following the East India Company’s victory in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The Government of India Act of 1858 established the British Raj as the English monarchy’s surrogate to control colonial trade across the Indian subcontinent.

The Dutch East India Company was another mega- corporation that traded in spices with Asia and colonized Indonesia and parts of Africa. In fact, it established the Cape Colony in South Africa as early as 1652. To be sure, these mega-corporations were the architects of colonialism and all the suffering that accompanied it in occupied countries. Parallels exist with US corporations in Central America in the 19th century, in examples such as the United Fruit Company in Guatemala, where repressive military dictatorships emerged and partnered with the US military to serve corporate interests.   The South Manchurian Railway Company did the same for Japanese imperialism in China. As the great Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda wrote:

United Fruit Co.
When the trumpet sounded everything was prepared on earth, and Jehovah gave the world
to Coca-Cola Inc., Anaconda,
Ford Motors, and other corporations. The United Fruit Company
reserved for itself the most juicy piece, the central coast of my world, the delicate waist of America.
It rebaptized these countries
Banana Republics …

General Smedley Butler (1881-1940) of the US Marines, a two-time winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and author of the famous book War is Racket (1935), in a speech in 1933, described himself as a...

high-class muscle man for big business, for Wall Street and the bankers. … I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914 and Haiti and Cuba decent places for the National City Bank boys. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1012. In China I helped Standard Oil operate unmolested.

Sadly, very little has changed to this day. In recent years John Perkins, a global corporate insider and an economist by training, wrote two confessional autobiographies to assuage his guilt.   InThe Confessions of an Economic Hit Man (2005) and The Secret History of the American Empire: The Truth about Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and How to Change the World (2008) Perkins shows how billions of dollars of wealth is transferred from poor countries using deceptive tools of economic forecasting, predatory lending and unending debt obligations, bloated corporate contracts, bribery, pimping, assassinations, and when those fail, even military interventions.

Corporations were also charted by states, for a limited time to serve the common good for a specific purpose, such as building a rail road or a bridge, and once this was done, those corporations were dissolved. In the US the Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad decision bestowed on corporations rights of persons (life, liberty, property, and speedy trial by jury, among others) and freedoms (speech, press, assembly, religion and others) guaranteed in the first ten amendments (known as the Bill of Rights) to the US Constitution.   Those permitted corporations to enjoy all the rights of persons without either the responsibilities or the consequences expected of actual persons. When you apply standards of human behavior to corporations, as the award-winning documentary, The Corporation, does through case analysis of criminally pathological corporate behavior and applying the criteria, as psychologists and psychiatrists do, from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), conclude that corporations would be unquestionably diagnosed as psychopaths, if they were persons.

Corporations are amoral legal entities.   Their primary function is not to produce goods or services for consumers. Most importantly, they are legally obligated to maximize returns for their shareholders.   In fact, the notion of social responsibility is not a part of the DNA of corporate structures.   Occasionally, programs of social responsibility are put forth as a public relation ploy to deal with growing public resentment. From time to time, people had to intervene to rein in the corporations in from their exploitative practices through legislation to control their powers, such as the break-up of Standard Oil following passage of the Sherman Anti-trust Act in the US. There is a movement to abolish corporate personhood and return to a time when they were mere legal instruments to serve the public good. Yet, if we look back at history, the notion of corporate social responsibility appears to be an oxymoron.

In this book, Ajith , after conducting a survey of corporate executives in Chennai, gives a glimpse into how these functionaries view CSR.   His findings make clear that there is very little understanding of CSR and imply that CSR is still viewed in traditional terms of providing education and health care. While those services may earn the goodwill of people in their communities, they are also largely self-serving. Although such CSR programs may provide companies with a healthy and educated workforce, they also serve as a public relations strategy to bolster the companies’ image.

Capitalists like Warren Buffett realize the imminent political, economic, and ecological dangers of accumulating unlimited wealth in few hands. They have much to lose when there is an apocalyptic collapse. The recent global economic meltdown, barely rescued by the U.S. tax-payer bailout of giant corporations like AIG , Solomon Brothers, Citibank, Bank of America and huge mortgage companies like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, was a clear indication of the extent of economic risk. Capitalism is unsustainable economically if it impoverishes the working class that forms the bulk of its consumers.   When it impoverishes large sections of the population, as Ajith observes about India, capitalism inevitably leads to political turmoil.

The rise of politically destabilizing Naxals in rural areas of 22 states in India, and the recent electoral victory of the Maoists in the adjoining country of Nepal after a protracted armed struggle, have not escaped the attention of some shrewd capitalists and perceptive politicians .   The question is whether 0.2 to 2 per cent of money that is recommended by Karmayog for CSR is adequate. I am afraid that the answer is definitely no. Nation states do redistribute wealth, often to those who control it. In India, corruption has been a long- lasting practice of controlling the nation state. Obviously, the poor who form the majority do not have the means either to control the nation state or to use it as a means of redistributing wealth in its favor.

Finally, can mother Earth—Bhoodevi Laxmi—bear an unrelenting assault on her capacity for capitalist accumulation that knows no limits? The severe sickness and fever—global warming, that the Earth Goddess is suffering is alarming, and she begs us to heal it. The CSR initiative in India is certainly a response that parallels Kyoto and other feeble protocols by the nations of the world. We, indeed, are consuming ourselves out of existence, a paradox that calls to mind a Zen Buddhist meditation imagery of a snake coiled in a circle beginning to eat its tail in four quadrants of a window; in the second, it had eaten a fourth of its length, in the third, three fourths, and the last quadrant, was blank—there was no snake. That picture did not make any sense to me until I read about how we are destroying the planet in pursuit of insatiable profits and consumption. Certainly, there is much wisdom in the nursery story I remember about the greedy farmer who killed the goose that laid golden eggs.

Given the environmental degradation and enormous poverty that still victimizes the majority of the population in India, as author Ajith urges, CSR has to emerge beyond its current charitable framework and look toward how corporations can change their structure to reduce environmental degradation, growing inequalities, poverty, and hunger. Paradoxical as this task is given the logic of capitalist accumulation, there is no escaping it. We will need to set up corporations that are legally bound to improve the quality of air, water, food, shelter and quality of life for all or else we will be speeding toward an apocalyptic doom—a shamefully short evolutionary life for a species that makes scriptural claims to be the crown of creation or— as in the ancient Hindu Advaita tradition— Aham Brahmasmi.

Dr.Henry J. D’Souza
Professor, Grace Abbott School of Social Work University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, Nebraska, 68182 USA

]]><![CDATA[Social Work Administration and Development]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:39:39 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-work-administration-and-development

Sanjay Bhattacharya, pp. 448, Rs. 795, Rawat Publications

Any profession would necessarily have to be conscious of the context in which it is operating in order to be relevant in its functioning. Social work also has been constantly evolving and attempting to redefine its mandates as per the changing needs of society.

Professional 'social work' is focussed on facilitation of empowerment and change, and it is based on an interrelated system of values, theory and practices. It involves the conscious application of values, philosophy, principles, methods, and skills, in social work practice.

However, in spite of the appropriate changes, and evolving perspectives, the core values of social work remain unchanged, e.g., such as helping; belief in people and society; social - justice, economic, political and legal; and solidarity and partnership with the marginalized.

Today, the process of globalization and the ensuing problems have ensured that social work practice not only has to be 'native' but also needs to 'internationalize' strategies for practice. In India, one faces a duality of the phenomenon of technological changes and their impact, on the one hand along with the traditional feudal society and mind set on the other. One sees newer forms of slavery, through liberalization, privatization, and globalization through institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and its policies. The role of society in intensification of democracy is increasingly being highlighted and acknowledged.

All these changes are important to understand social work in India. Some of the aspects that do influence social work are political philosophy and policies, government policies, community's changing needs and administration need, economic changes and activities such as consumerism and feminism. Social work also faces the challenges of providing services at the local micro level, and in seeking macro level solutions dealing with structural causes, which are reinforced by globalization.

This book on Social Work Administration and Development emphasizes the need for developing strategies and approaches to suit the new socio-economic reality by linking and integrating social skills with technical skills. It also covers the issues that are undertaken with regard to an individual, group and community in the process of organization and direction of a social institution. There has been a definite relationship between social welfare administration and development and its various aspects have been discussed in this volume.

It is hoped that the reader will not only gain a perception of social welfare administration and development, but will also be able to approve and put into operation various practices in the organizations as well as institutional set-ups.

In other words, it is intended as an in-depth knowledge source for practitioners in the Social Welfare and Developmental fields. Therefore the book will be useful to the students taking cause in Social Work, Rural Development, Public Administration, and Economic Development, etc., as well as Development experts, practitioners of NGOs and government organizations.

Sanjay Bhattacharya

]]><![CDATA[Methodology of Progressive Social Work Education]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:33:05 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/methodology-of-progressive-social-work-education

Murli Desai, pp. 192, Rs. 475, Rawat Publications

As a direct outcome of undertaking the University Grants Commission-sponsored curriculum development project (1986 to 1990) and conducting refresher courses for teachers (since 1989) for social work education, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) felt a need for a continued process for curriculum planning and teacher development for social work education. A Social Work Education and Practice Cell was, therefore, set up at the Institute in January 1992. The purpose of the Cell is training, research and resource development on methodology of social work education, through the following functions, at the local, national and international levels:

Training of social work educators, at various levels and through various modes;
Curriculum and resource development on social work education and its methodology for institutions, educators and students;
Consultation, capacity building and collaboration with institutions for social work education, professional associations and councils, and relevant government, voluntary and international organisations;
Research on social work education and practice; and
Development and dissemination of a data bank and a documentation centre on social work education, practice, professional associations and councils and literature on methodology of social work education.

The Cell has initiated to develop and disseminate a sourcebook series for education in social work and allied disciplines such as home science and development studies. These source books will be useful for the following groups:

Academic institutions: to revise their curriculum in order to make it more relevant to meet the contemporary needs in the historical context and also local and national needs in the international context.
Teachers: to plan and teach their subjects.
Students: as learning handbooks.
Practitioners: to update their knowledge, attitude and skills in the field.
Academic staff colleges, teacher trainers and continuing education departments of these institutions: for conducting refresher training programmes for teachers, field supervisors and practitioners.
Researchers: to identify the key concepts, theories and Issues.

The series will be particularly useful for institutions where libraries are non-existent or have meagre resources. It will also benefit institutions in other countries that would like the inter-national or cross-cultural orientation in their teaching, training and research pursuits.

Writing for this sourcebook on Methodology of Progressive Social Work Education has been a fascinating journey of reading, reflections and implementation and interactions with colleagues within and outside the TISS and students through different phases of my career as a social work educator.

The chapter on 'Methodology of Progressive Social Work Knowledge Development' has its source in my work with a research unit in the Institute - the Unit for Family Studies - which was then linked to the Social Work Department of Family and Child Welfare. Besides carrying out social work research and publishing articles on it, I conducted workshops with students on how social work research has to apply social research methodology to improve social work practice. I also published a special issue of The Indian Journal of Social Work (IJSW) on 'Social Work Literature'.
The chapter on 'Methodology of Progressive Social Work Knowledge Dissemination and Retrieval' emerged during my tenure as the Associate Editor of IJSW. My work in this position culminated in preparation of a Handbook of Management of IJSW and organising a National Workshop on Knowledge Development and Dissemination of Social Work Knowledge, on the 60th anniversary of the journal. A special issue of IJSW on this theme is in press.
The chapters, relating to methodologies of building a perspective, curriculum development and teaching-learning and evaluation for progressive social work education, had their beginning in the form of handouts prepared for participants of Refresher Courses for Social Work Educators, conducted by the Cell. The chapter on 'Methodology of Building a Perspective for Progressive Social Work Education' is adapted from a paper that I presented at the National Seminar on Standards for Assessment of Quality in Social Work Education.
The chapter on 'Methodology of Progressive Training Programmes' has its source in conducting refresher courses as well as the training programme I organised with other colleagues on Life Enrichment Programme and preparation of sourcebooks for the same.

The draft sourcebook on Methodology of Social Work Education formed an important reference document for planning the National Seminar on Standards for Assessment of Quality in Social Work Education, organised by the TISS in November 2003, as well as the preparation of the Manual on Assessment and Accreditation of Social Work Education Programme, on invitation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The sourcebook will further facilitate quality upgrading and maintenance of social work education.

The encouragement and support that I received from Prof. R.R. Singh, Director of the Institute, while preparing this sourcebook is gratefully acknowledged. I am also thankful to him for honouring the sourcebook by writing the Foreword for the same. Lastly, but most importantly, this endeavour would have not been possible without feedback from colleagues within and outside the Institute and students.

Murli Desai
Author of the Sourcebook
Chief Editor of the Sourcebook Series on Social Work Education
Professor and Head, Social Work Education and Practice Cell
Tata Institute of Social Sciences

]]><![CDATA[Perspectives on Coping & Resilience]]>Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:28:59 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/perspectives-on-coping-resilience

Venkat Pulla, Andrew Shatte & Shane Warren, pp. 506, Rs. A$ 29.95, Authors Press

Humanity's need for resilience has rarely been greater. We live in a troubled world, in troubled times. As we write, there are 35 major military conflicts and wars raging on this planet. Thirteen per cent of the world's population is unable to find enough food. And global warming is threatening our very survival as a species.

The global recession has tested our mettle-tested our resilience-for the last five years. In the United States, each and every day since 2008, 8,000 people lost their jobs and 2,500 families lost their homes. This is not a uniquely American phenomenon. The economic contagion has spread throughout much of the globe. In the Eurozone, unemployment now stands at a record high of 11.1 per cent. In the first year of the recession alone, China saw 670,000 of its businesses close their doors.

But as tough as these times are, and as immediate as our need for resilience is, the reality is that resilience is an evergreen ability, ever in demand, almost as much a basic human need as air to breathe and water to drink.

Consider the fishermen in India's Bay of Bengal. Every year, year after year, the monsoons batter and swamp their meager boats. But day after day, holding tightly to their dinghies, they return to the sea, fighting the wet and the tides, forever hopeful for that big catch. Consider the people of the Oddar Meanchey province on the Cambodian-Thai border, who live their entire lives tending their disputed lands, under a pall of conflict and uncertainty-and who manage, through their resilience, to settle into some kind of normalcy. Drive through some of these dusty villages where farmers continue to cultivate their fields amidst chaos, and one is struck by the improbable serenity. Or, if you will indulge us, consider the lives of the average citizen of our industrialized nations. They have food and, by and large, they have peace. What they lack is peace of mind. Day in and day out they are told to do more with less at work, face impossible deadlines, are torn between work and home, watch their retirement plans go up in smoke in the great recession, juggle kids and deal with aging parents-all under the threat of downsizing.

And so we see that the need for resilience is a basic human need. And as a truly global phenomenon, it demands a global voice. And that is why we have gathered together a cadre of people from around the world to share with us, and with you the reader, their important work on resilience. Perspectives on Coping and Resilience examines the interplay of individual, family, community and social factors, and deepens our understanding of the human ability to 'bounce back'-a vital competency for success. This unique collection of trans-disciplinary writings on human coping and resilience is the collaboration of distinguished practitioners and academics in the diverse fields of psychology, management science, art, social work and spirituality.

Coping and Resilience have become core issues in a multiplicity of social science disciplines, as they have in our societies today. Taking a social work perspective the very first chapter on contours of coping and resilience by Venkat Pulla explains the core elements in coping and resilience, and suggests a strengths approach, promoting resilience from the remedial to the empowering. The intention of this chapter, and this book, is to facilitate change by examining what has worked, what has not worked and what might work in boosting resilience in our clients.

If we are going to take a deeper dive into resilience, we must first examine what the concept of resilience is. Thomas Dukes, the Director of School Counselling at Rhode Island University in the United States takes us on a philosophical examination of resilience and its meaning.

We learn that Emotion Regulation-the ability to control negative feelings in the wake of an adversity-is a critical component of Resilience. Shane Warren, a Director of the International Resilience Institute of Sydney, opens us up to what emotion regulation is. Jennifer Hudson and Venkat Pulla, from Social Work at Charles Sturt University in Australia, expand on the topic and show us how emotion regulation develops from birth through the first six years of life, pointing to possible prescriptions for our children along the way.

We learn of the importance of Self-efficacy in Resilience-the belief that one has control or even mastery in one's world. Anndrea Wheatley shares with us her important work in the schools of Sydney, Australia, as she co-opts the old narrative of 'the little engine who could' to assess the current state of self-efficacy in the students she serves and to help them boost their sense of mastery and control for greater resilience.

Several of our marvelous contributors demonstrate the power of resilience in the lives of individuals and the importance of personal resilience to better deal with adversity. Sharalyn Drayton, in her Sydney practice, writes of the use of resilience to change self-defeating behaviors in the cycle of addiction and co-dependence. In a truly multinational collaboration (Canada-Australia-New Zealand-Malaysia), Nur Aishah Hanun, Lynne Briggs and Wayne Hammond present case studies illustrating exactly how and when to deploy a resilience intervention with youth with disabilities. Anne Riggs, a practitioner in Victoria, Australia, relates her creative use of art therapy to help the female victims of childhood sexual abuse move from victimhood to recovery. Linda Douglas of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic Violence offers riveting anecdotes that demonstrate the key role of resilience in predicting who recovers from domestic violence and how this knowledge should guide the services we provide to victims of abuse and Sindisio Zhou and Nhlanhla Landa proffer a moving chapter on how the 18 per cent of Zimbabwean women afflicted with HIV-AIDS are able to cope.

Some of our authors reflect the advances made by the positive psychology movement in their work. In their powerful and important work, practitioners Pamela Trotman and Leisha Townson from the Northern Territory, Australia, introduce us to the concept of the Survivor Self. They outline how we in the healing professions have come to medicalize and clinicalize the normal, human response to trauma with our very language. Instead of remediating victims, they help their clients-like the woman who was held hostage and threatened for hours with death by machete-identify the very moment in time when they became a survivor rather than a victim, and use that kernel to help resilience bloom and flourish. Richard Hill posits that humans may experience as much growth as trauma after a traumatic experience. Jeanne Broderick challenges us to tap into our emotional guidance systems for the positive as much as we do the negative. And Jo Kelly writes of how we can inject resilience into the normal, positive, social and emotional development of our adolescent children.

Of course, individuals are part of wider networks-work organizations, communities, societies, and nations-and several of our contributors have shared their work on resilience at this broader level. Robin Hills and Doug Haynes of the United Kingdom have developed an innovative method of opening up conversations with employees about their attitude to organizational change and adversity. Using 16 cards depicting adversity and resilience scenarios, they explore the resilience metaphors we bring to the table and begin to build stronger individuals in more resilient organizations as a result. Similarly, Linda Hoopes, a corporate consultant from the United States, explores how to create individual resilience in an organizational setting. Alyce White and Venkat Pulla encourage us to consider resilience as more than just a list of personal strengths. They outline a theory of how family, school, community, and even national and cultural mores shape the resilience of the person-reminding us of the old African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child. Linda Hoopes and her colleague, Lynne Varagona have developed a system to provide a snapshot into the resilience of a community and Lynne Varagona details her remarkable discovery that, in the developing nations, the resilience of the country's leaders, people, and social context are able to predict changes in GDP above and beyond the metrics of the World Bank.

In our final chapter, Andrew Shatte of the College of Medicine at The University of Arizona in the United States and a Fellow with the Brookings Institution outlines the 20-year history of his and his colleagues pursuit of the concept of resilience and how to boost it in children, adolescents and adults. Consider this chapter, and this book, as a celebration of all of our contributors and countless others around the world who have dedicated their careers to understanding people, their adversities big and small, the human capacity for resilience, and how we can help people heal, survive, and thrive.
This book is dedicated to them all.

Venkat Pulla, Andrew Shatte, Shane Warren
23 November, 2012

]]><![CDATA[Ethics in Social Work Education and Practice in India]]>Sat, 09 Jan 2016 12:52:48 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/ethics-in-social-work-education-and-practice-in-india

Indrajit Goswami, pp. 336, Rs. 600, Mangala Publications

Historically, all the major religions of the world and their ethics have influenced and guided the traditional social services. But in the later half of the 19th century there was a growing realization to make the services more scientific, secular and humanitarian. As a result all traditional professions had to shift their domains from the cradle of religions to modernity. That transformation has led them to develop a more organized and systematic body of knowledge; specialized training system, professional association and professional ethics.

Simultaneously, the established and emerging theories of professions remind us that along with several other attributes, ethics and ethical codes are to play the central role in shaping the destiny of the professions including social work. In the West, especially in the U.S.A. and U.K., the social workers' concern with ethics has matured considerably during the past century and the concerned professional associations in those countries have adopted their own Code of Ethics. But, in India, the profession could neither develop one common Code for all nor reach to any consensus about what should be its shape or form. Except a very few, there is lack of substantial indigenous literature on professional ethics in social work in India. Also there was hardly any empirical evidence which could show whether any particular Code of Ethics had been discussed in the social work institutions in India or any such had been followed in practice or not. While in the West, the academicians and researchers are doing advanced research for finding solutions for ethical dilemmas, in India the practical implications of professional ethics have never been given due attention.

The book is an attempt to respond to longstanding need to a reference book written primarily for the social work students and practitioners. This book would be useful in prepareing them to the challenges faced in the profession. The committment to professional values and ethics does not develop automatically but through a concerned process of building awareness and a favourable attitude among the budding professionals. This volume addresses social work values and ethics in the context of the emerging needs in the developing societies in general and in particicular to the socio-cultural uniqueness of all primary stakeholders of the profession in Indian society.

The book is divided into eight chapters covering all important aspects of social work code of ethics, including its hisorical development, maturity process and its compatibility to different practice settings. The book is an outcome of an empirical study which was greatly contributed by several renowned academicians, scholars and social work educators, both from India and abroad. Each of them deserves heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

I am grateful to Dr. C.P. Goyal, Rtd. Professor and HOD, Department of Social work, M.G. Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi; Dr. R.R. Singh, Ex-Director and Emeritus Professor, TISS, Mumbai; Dr. P. Ramachandran, Rtd. Professor, TISS, Mumbai; Dr. Rajshree P. Mahtani, Reader, TISS, Mumbai; Prof. Siva Raju, Urban Studies, TISS, Mumbai; Dr. P. Mondal, Senior Lecturer, TISS, Mumbai; Prof. K.K. Jacob, Ex-Principal, Udaipur School of Social Work, Udaipur; Prof. A.S. Inam Sastri, M.G. Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi; Late Dr. Musafir Sing, Rtd. Professor and HOD, Dept. of Social Work, JVBI, Ladnun; Prof. D.K. Lal Das, R.M. College of Social Work, Hyderabad; and Dr. S.B. Saxena, Rtd. Professor, Baroda University, for their valuable suggestions and comments during the course of my study.

I am also thankful to Dr. B.L. Agarwal, Rtd. Professor & HOD, Department of Statistics, Maharana Pratap Agriculture University, Udaipur; Dr. A.B. Phatak, Rtd. Professor, Vidya Bhawan Teachers' Training College, Udaipur; Dr. Meenakshi Srivastava, Reader in Statistics, Institute of Social Sciences, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra; Dr. P.K. Dashora, Associate Professor, Maharana Pratap Agriculture University, Udaipur; and Dr. Ashok Kumar, Joint Director (PC), NIPCCD, New Delhi, for their expert guidance used in this book.

I express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Prof. K.K. Mukhopadhaya, Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, Delhi; Prof. Murli Desai, Head, Social Work Education and Practice Cell, TlSS, Mumbai and Prof. T.M. Dak, Director, Institute of Social Development, Udaipur, for their valuable advice and critical comments towards improving the quality of writing.

I feel gratified to record my cordial and warm thanks to Prof. Sarah Banks, Durham University, U.K.; Prof Ian Butler, Keele University, U.K.; Prof. F.G. Reamer, Rhode Island College, USA; and Prof. Tom Wilks, London South Bank University, U.K., for extending their very kind cooperation through internet for searching relevant foreign literature and for sending me the soft copies of their own relevant publications as reference materials.

I acknowledge the assistance extended to me by Dr. Subhabrata Dutta, Assam University, Silchar and the librarians and staff members of different libraries for their very kind cooperation and help in my review work. The list of libraries include Sir Dorabji Tata Memorial Library, TlSS, Mumbai; the National Library, Kolkata; Udaipur School of Social Work Library, Udaipur; Ratan Tata Library, University of Delhi, Delhi, and the Central Library, M.L.S. University, Udaipur.

I feel it my bounden duty to express my heartfelt thanks to the Principals/Head of the Departments/Directors of all the social work departments/institutes who extended their esteemed cooperation and necessary assistance in data collection.

Indrajit Goswami

]]><![CDATA[community organisation and social action]]>Sat, 09 Jan 2016 12:24:40 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/community-organisation-and-social-action

Dr. B.S. Gunjal, pp. 294, Rs. 250, IBH Prakashana

The present book is prepared in view of the dearth of the literature available on methods of Social Work, particularly two of the methods, i.e. Community Organization and Social Action which constitute integral part of Social Work Education. While there is limited literature available from the Western authors, the indigenous literature by the Indian authors in the context of the socio-economic conditions obtaining in our country is found lacking.

This book is an attempt to bring forward the various aspects of Community Organisation and Social Action in Indian context. The work would not have seen the light of the day without the active support of all the eminent Social Work Educators. Their zeal and hard work not only paved the way, but also gave us the necessary inspirations to get going. I take this opportunity, to thank all the eminent scholars for contributing chapters in this book.

I acknowledge the sense of gratitude to Prof. S.A. Bari Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shimoga district, Karnataka, Prof. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee former Vice-Chancellor, Assam (Central) University, Silchar, Assam, Prof. K.V. Ramana, former Vice-Chancellor, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Prof. H.M. Marulasiddaiah (Retd.), Bangalore University, Bangalore, Prof. G.S. Bidarakoppa, (Retd.), Karnatak University, Dharwad, Prof. N.A. Ganihar (Retd.), Karnatak University, Dharwad and Prof. I.A. Shariff (Retd.), NIMHANS, Bangalore. My special thanks are due to Prof. S.V. Sudhakar, former Vice-Chancellor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh for writing Foreword to this book.

Hopefully, this book would cater the needs of Social Work Educators, Researchers, Students and Social Work and Developmental practitioners. The Planners and Policy makers may also find this book useful for reference for their curriculum and planning. I sincerely hope that, student community of Social Work fraternity will find it useful in their academic and professional pursuits.

Dr. B.S.Gunjal

]]><![CDATA[fields of social work practice]]>Sat, 09 Jan 2016 12:20:29 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/fields-of-social-work-practice

B.S. Gunjal, Gangabhushan M. Molankal, pp. 450, Rs. 550, Baraha Publishing House

The book on Fields of Social Work Practice edited by us provides an up-to-date introduction to all the fields of social work practice i.e. both the conventional and a few new areas of practice.

The key features of this book is to give an overview of the fields of social work practice ranging from child-family to globalization.

While drawing the attention of the ardent students of social work to the available literature on social work practice, the book highlights the Indian perspectives as also unique coverage of the topic by summarising and reviewing what is known about the fields of social work in the Indian context.

]]><![CDATA[Social Development through Social Work]]>Fri, 01 Jan 2016 10:57:52 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-development-through-social-work

Ashok Antony D'Souza, pp. 176, Rs. 350, Niruta Publications

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in his midnight address to the Constituent Assembly on 14-15 August 1947 had observed, “The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over”. Thus, India, being a socialist state, was expected to work towards bringing about a socio-economic transformation based on the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.

Social policies, legislation, and planning are meant to be the means through which the state would achieve ‘social development’ – the development aimed at ending “poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity”. Having made efforts to achieve this goal for the past seven decades, Independent India has many more miles to go before it can claim to have achieved its objectives stated in the form of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy. It is in such a context that Professional Social Workers are expected to join hands with the agencies of the state and civil society to ensure that real social development is achieved so the dignity and sanctity of the term ‘democracy’ is not degraded further. In order to do justice to the role of a change agent, Social Workers are expected to be very familiar with the significance of social development as well as the ways and means of achieving its goals. Hence, course/paper on ‘Social Policy, Planning and Social Development’ forms a very important component in the undergraduate (BSW) and postgraduate (MSW) curriculum. This book has been written to help the teachers and learners of this course/paper gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of various topics related to the subject. Hope this effort of mine fulfills the academic need of the learners.

Ashok Antony D’Souza, Ph.D.

Social Development through Social Work
File Size:	209 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[Social Policy, Social Welfare and Social Development]]>Mon, 21 Dec 2015 13:11:35 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-policy-social-welfare-and-social-development

Shankar Pathak, pp. 224+VIII, Rs. 400, Niruta Publications

This book is a selection of my published articles on a common theme. Most of them were written during a period of eight years 1979-1987 (chapters 1 to 4, and 6 and 7). Chapter 8 was written for the ASSWI seminar on poverty, December 1975 and published later in a book edited by R.R. Singh (Concept Publishing Co.). Chapter 5 was part of a special project conceived and executed by Dr. Murli Desai, who was then on the faculty of Tata Institute of Social Sciences and it was published in the Indian Journal of Social Work in April 1997. Chapter 9 was specially written during January-April 2013 for this publication, to provide the readers with an overview of India’s developmental planning of over sixty years, an empirial check on the conceptual-academic discussion of social development/ development in chapters No. 2 and 3.

Readers may supplement the data and possibly arrive at a conclusion different than mine. For over six months a wealth of data from a variety of sources were collected-official/semi-official (government and industry) independent academic writers or other prestigius organisational sources like A.D.B. World Bank, O.E.C.D. and R.B.I. Only a small selection of the collected data is used in chapter 9 and some additional data is presented in the Appendix III, Statistical Profile.

This is my seventh and last book being published during the twilight of my life (I am now 83 years of age). As before, the Printer and Publisher, Ramesha M.H. is responsible for this publication. Malati S.M. and K. Anantha Murthy took much trouble in converting my handwritten drafts of the last chapter, into computer-printed script for D.T.P. I am grateful to them. I thank Mr. Ramesha and his team for their untiring efforts which made this publication possible.

20 June, 2013 Shankar Pathak
Bangalore

Social Policy, Social Welfare & Social Development
File Size:	167 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[Social Work and Social Welfare (NBT)]]>Sat, 19 Dec 2015 13:15:58 GMThttps://www.nirutapublications.org/social-work-books-english/social-work-and-social-welfare-nbt

Shankar Pathak, pp. 340, Rs. 245, Niruta Publications

In 2012, I published a book – Social Work and Social Welfare, Historical Cultural Perspective, Niruta Publications, Bangalore. It included selected, revised and updated parts of my earlier two books: Social Welfare: An Evolutionary and Developmental Perspective, Macmillan – India, 1981 and Social Welfare, Health and Family Planning in India. Marwah Publications,1979. I had also added four chapters especially written for that book.

National Book Trust of India, N.Delhi considered this book for a re-publication under its subsidy scheme and decided to sanction the subsidy amount with suggestions for abridgement and reorganization of content of some chapters. Accordingly some changes have been made in the original 2012 edition of the book. They are: deletion of the chapter on Bhakti (chapter No.20), merging the content of three chapters (No 14,15 and 16) into one chapter – Indian Perspective of Social Work and merging the content of chapter 18 – Sarvodaya Methods of Social Work and B.N. Ganguli’s views on Gandhian Social Work (Appendix I). Chapter No.15 is an entirely new chapter incorporating the contents of chapter No.17 and Appendix I. I think these changes have improved the quality of the original edition of the book and I thank the anonymous referee of the National Book Trust for his helpful suggestions.

Once again I thank Ramesha M.H. and his team, Niruta Publications for publishing this new abridged and revised edition of my book. I hope the book will reach a wider audience including students and teachers of social work in view of its subsidized, affordable price.

Shankar Pathak
Bangalore
2 October 2013

Social Work and Social Welfare (NBT)
File Size:	279 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]>