The lowdown
Social work involves helping individuals, groups or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning. It deals with issues of social change clubbed with social justice and human rights. Welfare workers develop the capacity and potential of the needy, enabling them to help themselves.
Social work, however, is very different from what people perceive it to be. It is not charity work
Clock Work
9am: Go to office
10am: Go to the field; interact with people
12noon: Meet outreach workers
1pm: Quick lunch
2pm: Design training programmes
4pm: Prepare and review reports
5.30pm: Work on a new proposal/ project
6.30pm: Meet the staff at office, discuss plans for new project in slum areas
7.30pm: Leave for home
The payoff
A beginner can earn anywhere between R10,000 to R20,000
which can go up from R20,000 to R1 lakh as one reaches senior levels. For self-employed professionals, the sky is the limit
Skills/TRAITS
. Basic knowledge of human behaviour, society and its systems
. Compassion for fellow human beings
. Should be emotionally mature, rational and sensitive
. Should have good listening, observation and counselling skills
Getting There
Social work is an interdisciplinary social science and profession with practising professionals and students from diverse backgrounds. However, a master's in social work is the standard and ideal qualification for this line. A doctorate is an added advantage
Institutes
. TISS, Mumbai
www.tiss.edu
. University of Delhi
www.du.ac.in
. Institute of Rural Management, Anand, Gujarat
www.irma.ac.in
. Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
www.jmi.nic.in
. College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai and Department of Social Work, Christ College, Bangalore are
also among the better institutions in India
Pros and cons
. You achieve a unique sense of satisfaction helping others
. Work schedules are erratic; witnessing the deplorable conditions others live in could be frustrating
| The work is often frustrating, but it can bring you happiness like no other job in the world Kapil Pandey, president, Kutumb Foundation which educates the urban displaced |
