Career in Social Work

What: Today the society is becoming more and more complex in its working. The prime slogan of today’s world is the survival of the fittest. This has increased the number of helpless, deprived and disadvantaged. Here is the role of social work comes into play. Social work utilize resources to sort out the problems of such people and try to ameliorate and alleviate their pain and suffering. Social workers try to prevent social problems caused by poverty, unemployment, inadequate health and education facility, alcoholism, drugs abuse. They also try to improve the life of certain disadvantaged like disabled, old aged, orphan and women. The days are gone when social work was done for philanthropic purpose. But now it become a professional course offered by institutes like TISS, IRMA and Delhi School of Social Work keeping in eyes the proliferation of NGOs in every nooks and corner of the country. Many and many students now prefer social work courses and get wide varieties of opportunities.

Social work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are based on respect for the equality, worth, and dignity of all people. Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work practice has focused on meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social work action. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty and to liberate vulnerable and oppressed people in order to promote social inclusion.

Remuneration of qualified professional social worker varies according to their job profile, qualification and experience. Those employed in government’s community developmental projects have good earnings of Rs 8000 to Rs 10000. Those working for NGOs also have similar pay structures. One can expect higher salary in corporate houses and industries. Salaries and perks are even higher in International NGOs. The Social Workers who are running their own NGOs also have handsome earnings.

How: There are ample job opportunities for BSW/MSW degree holders in both the government as well as non-governmental sectors. Opportunity in the governmental sector is mainly in the community development projects pertaining to health, education, rural development, child, woman and tribal welfare etc. Work in NGOs’ can be specific to either urban or rural area. Postgraduates in Social Work also have job opportunities in the industrial and corporate sector. Students opting social work as career may find job in child welfare and family service agencies for providing mental, health, medical, educational and correctional services.

Where: Premier international organizations like WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF and other international organizations with similar goals targeted at developing nations, require social workers in their developmental campaigns and projects. These organizations also pay well.

Institutions:

• Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta
• Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
• Institute of Social Sciences, Agra
• University of Delhi, Delhi
• Rajasthan University, Jaipur
• Bombay University, Mumbai
• Loyola College of Social Sciences, Chennai
• Trivandrum and Madras School of Social Work, Chennai