Growth and Development of Social Work Profession in India in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Abstract

The social work profession is a practice-based profession having its methods, theories, models and approaches. It has a rich history of two centuries worldwide. There are six methods of social work, such as social casework, social group work, community organization, social action, social welfare administration and social work research. It has a deep root in our society and daily lives, as it is the study of human behaviour, needs, and potential to offer expert support to a person or a community in a professional way following its methods, approaches and theories. The social work profession is practiced in Developmental Non-Profit Organizations, International Non- Governmental Organizations, International Schools, and Corporate Hospitals. Medical and psychiatric settings, and rehabilitation settings, to uplift marginalized women, orphan and semi-orphan children, downtrodden communities, physically and mentally challenged citizens, uncared elders, aspirant youth and many more segments of the people in society. The trends in social work are extended to various fields such as the removal of social problems, the solution of individual and family problems, policy-making, environmental issues, and disaster management etc. By its successful intervention on social issues, it is called a profession of noble and global.