Social work is a dynamic profession as it deals with society which is ever evolving and changing. The ambit of its function revolves around community and people in a complex environment.

Loyola College, Chennai organized a two-days conclave on Intercultural Social Work from April 30 to May 1, 2017 which was steered by Rev. Dr. Hilaria Soundari,  Dr. Ilango Ponnuswamy, and Rev. Dr. M.S. Jacob.

The purpose was to hold discussions on this very complex issue of Intercultural social work from the personal and social perspectives in diverse contexts. The conclave was a starting point for further research with professors from Latin America and European countries joining  in near future.

Dr. John Arokiaraj, State Officer Tamilnadu, Caritas India presented a paper on “Intercultural Social Work from the perspective of welfare administration and development”.

“It is becoming obvious that all large multi-ethnic societies, after attaining the beatific status of development, lose interest in removing poverty, especially when poverty is associated with ethnic and cultural groups that lack or lose political clout” he said.

Rather than promoting economic growth and raising living standards in terms of incomes, we need a growth mediated-development that provides a better quality of life. The present socio- economic situation of affluence and extreme poverty  demands for systemic thinking and strategic planning for a future vision. Communication and proper internalization  of vision within organization creates synergy.

Dr. John insisted that the response to poverty cannot be ‘property’, rather the alternative to both must be ‘community’. Social inclusion is a proactive strategy that could put the underprivileged poor on par with other groups that are better placed in accessing the benefits.

He cited the examples from Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction programme (Udhayam) of Caritas India wherein through inclusive and rights based approach the dignity,  protection, livelihood and environmental issues are addressed through community based advocacy initiatives and networking.

Responding to the concern that” Unless we write there is no literature”, he said that there are innumerable documented case studies at the possession of Caritas India and we are ready to share qualitative and quantitative data contributing towards Indian philosophy of Social Work – Indigenizing our own framework of practices.

Earlier, Prof. Vimla V. Nadkarni (Ex-TISS, Immediate Past President, International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)) spoke on framework based on ethnocentrism, cultural pluralism, cross cultural and anti-discriminatory practice.

She added that dual perspective helps in the analysis of the problems faced by minority groups trying to adjust with the dominant culture.

This conclave was a continuation of International conference held in Catholic University of Eichstatt – Ingolstadt, Germany in October 2016 on the topic “Social Diversity – International Social Work with an intercultural and de- colonial perspectives”. It paved way for an on-going dialogue on” knowledge of intercultural social work in India and a follow-up regarding the research in India. It was a knowledge exchange of Social Work practices addressing the vulnerabilities of the communities belonging to indigenous, ethnic, multicultural, excluded and poor.