Historical Development of Social Work In India

Professional social work in India is of recent origin.

1. The history of social work in India is as old as the settlement of the civilized society. Social Work in our country began as activities aimed at providing relief to individuals and groups at the level of basic physical needs and foods, clothing, and shelters. During the periods of Kings, a number of welfare programs and services, as well as social measures, were taken. Most notable efforts were King like Ashoka who recognized social service and used to had concern for the clean and beautiful environment. Similarly King Firoj Shah Tuglaq, and many more.
2. Taking care of the needy and helpless was always been the foundational values of ancient India. The Philanthropic, charity, religions charity activities and shramadan were the best examples of the earliest form of social work in India. The Panchyat system of those times not only focus on the community reliance but also provided support systems to the community in the time of needs.
3. The joint family system served the major roles in looking after the helplessness of the family members and community as well. They played very crucial roles in taking care of the destitute, child, widow and physically handicapped.
4. Indian Religions community like Hindu, Muslim, and Jains had a system of charity as Muslims had the system of Zakat and Hindu had Dan Dhaksina and Jains too had Chaturvidha Dana. During the time many institutions were build up such as Dharmasala, and Brudhaashrama. These activities were considered to be a religious obligation. This ceremonial practice was the foundational base of social work in ancient India.

British Period.

1. British had initiated several social service programs. The significant contributors to the social service were Christians Missionaries. They were the first Evangelical Baptist Missionaries in India who had addressed the need and discovered so many social measures to ameliorate the social condition of the country.
2. They strongly opposed the practice of social evil like child marriage, female infanticide, Kulinism, self-torture, and Ghat Murder. The began to advocate on the widow remarriage and effectively worked for the abolition of Sati Practice.
3. Thereafter, Indian leaders like Raja Ram Mohan Roy,Iswar Chandra Vidhya Sagar, Joytiba  Phule, Shri  Rama Krishnan Paramahansa, and Swami Vivekananda had significantly contributed towards the social reforms of Indian Society. They advocated about the abolition of Sati and widow remarriage. 

Emergence of Movements 

1. The emergence of Institutional movements had played crucial roles in the growth and development of social work in India. Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramkrishna Mission, and the Theosophical Society come into established. This institution pragmatically started working for the reforms and social well being of the Indian society.
2. In the late 19th century social reforms were linked with religious change but gradually the entire movement appeared to be more liberal social oriented.
3. The main focus of the welfare activities during the time was giving relief to the poor, protective care to the blind, deaf, dumb and the establishment of charitable home and dispensaries for the child, women, and widow.
4. In the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi set on revolution movement Sarvodaya to achieve the political transformation of rural India by initiating the constructive program in the village. His focus was on the special disadvantage group such as women, children and the untouchable of the community.
5. In addition to this, the changing social structure of Indian society and the individual's needs were no longer fulfilled and taken care of the family structure. Gradually third party intervention was realized and it was indeed required.

The Growth of social work 

1. In India, professional training in social work was started with the effort of Dr.Cliffort Manshardt, an Americal Protestant missionaries, who had graduated in theology from the University of Chicago. He came to India in 1925 through the American Marathi Mission, a Protestant Christian organization.
2. This organization undertake work in slums with that objective it had founded the Nagapada Neighborhood House in 1926 headed by Dr. Clifford Manshardt as it's the first director 
3. The objective and activities were almost similar to the work of the Settlement House.
4. With the financial assistance from the Sir Dorabaji Tata Trust the first school founded in 1936  and the school was known as Sir Dorabji Graduate School of Social Work later renamed as Tata Institute of Social Science in 1944.
5. During the time post-graduation in social work begun to start in India. Some institutions used to offer Mphil, Ph.D. and D.Lit level. The initial syllabus was designed by following the curriculum of the American School of Social Work with British Pattern.
6. Prof Desai has mentioned the first curriculum in 1936 by TISS which included Social Casework, Administration and Research. Other humanities courses like  Sociology, psychology, economics and human development were also offered.
7. Delhi School of Social Work now known as the Department of social work is said to be the second school of social work to be established in India.
8. It was the first school recognized by the University for offering a program in social work.
9. Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, and Kashi Vidyapith Varanasi were founded by Mahatma Gandhi on 18th October 1920 to literate Indian youth. The Vidyapith imparted a graduation course in social sciences.
10. In the year 1947, The Mahadeva Desai college of social work was established. Subsequently, several other schools came into established for offering social work courses some were in Baroda in 1950. In Chennai and Lucknow 1954, thereafter Nirmala Niketan founded in the year 1955.
11. The most remarkable development was the establishment of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda which was the first institution to have gained faculty status.
12. The Madras school of social work was established in the year 1952 under the initiative of Madras State Branch of Indian Conference of social work which was later renamed as Indian Council of Social Welfare. The school offers social work with a specialization in Rural and Urban community development, family and child welfare, Psychiatric social work as well as labor welfare.
13. In later periods teaching and research were started at Lucknow University. Under the leadership of late Prof.Radha Kamal Mukerjhee Jk institute of sociology and human relation was established in 1954. As the director of the institution, Prof.Mukherji started a Diploma in Social Service in 1949.
14. In 1954, Master of Social Techniques was started and it was renamed as master of social work in 1955.
15. The department of Lucknow University began to provide a sequence of courses of social work from bachelor to D.litt level. It was also regarded as the first department to start a PhD and D.litt degree program in social work course. In
16. In 1975 the second review committee of the University  Grants Commission of Social Work Education (UGC 1980) reported having 34 schools and departments of social work in India and it witnesses unprecedented growth in the number of social work institutions in India.
17. By the year 2004, it was estimated to have 200 schools and institutions offering social work.
18. The most remarkable development was of introduction to a bachelor degree in social work by Indira Gandhi National Open Univerisity from the year 2004.

Conclusion.

From 1936 to date social work has been proliferating dramatically. The rapid growth in the number of the institution is clear evidence of the popularity of the course.

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