Assignment Code: BSW-121/2021-22

Course Code: BSW-121

Assignment Name: Professional Social Work and its Values

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Note:

(i) Answer any five of the following questions in about 300 words each.

(ii) All questions carry equal marks.

Q1. Describe the evolution of social work and social service tradition in India. (20)

Ans) The evolution of social work and social service tradition in India is as follows:

Social Reform in Ancient Period

The main characteristic was doing or initiating welfare and common good of all, the glimpses of which can be found in folk tales and legends in old literary works, Smritis or Dharmashastras. The earliest mention to charity can be obtained from Rigveda which encourages charity by saying «May the one who gives shine most». Collective charity was popular form of social work, of which progress of education or Vidyadana was an important one, as one of the numerous Jatakas reflect. Other Upanishads like Brihadaranyaka, Chhandogya and Taittiriya prescribes that every householder must practice charity.

One of the popular methods of performing social activities, hence was Yagnas. The main aim of yagnas was the common welfare of all, devoid of any personal benefit or profit. Due to the simple nature of activities and relationships community welfare was a concern of everybody. With the gradual development of agrarian societies, private ownership of land and charity came into being.

Charity or Dana became the instrument and virtue of the privileged sections to be dispensed voluntarily. By later Vedic period charity/dana became institutionalized and became associated with religious ideology. Charity was not merely a means to ameliorate the conditions of the marginalized populace but also giving of gifts to Sangha, which were centres of shelters and learning. General welfare, construction of roads, agriculture, etc., were given attention.

Kautilya highlights the duties of the King towards the welfare and happiness of his subjects. During the reign of Ashoka and later Kanishka, similar range of social welfare activities were initiated which encompassed women's welfare, rehabilitation of prisoners, rural development, free medical care, regulation of prostitution, provision of public utility services, etc.

Social Reform in Medieval Period (1206-1706)

The approach followed while mentioning the social reform activities during the medieval period would be to focus not on individual kings and their achievements, but to the extent of their contribution to changes in social institutions and structure. The Muslim Sultanate who formed a significant phase of the medieval period were motivated and driven by the same spirit of social service in the fields of religion and education. The religion enjoined upon the Muslims to render help to the underprivileged by the payment of Zakat, «the annual legal alms of five things, namely money, cattle, grain, fruit and merchandise».

Social Reform in Modern Period (AD 1800 onwards)

The genesis of social reform movement can be traced to the work of Raja Rammohan. Several of them established schools and institutions to provide service to individuals affected with the harmful aspects of the Hindu society. They based their attack on spreading education and propaganda, encouraging the governments to pass legislations to eradicate these social practices.

Q2. Trace the history of social work in the United States of America. (20)

Ans) The establishment of American relief systems was aided by the English Poor Law laws and associated developments. The early and mid-seventeenth-century colonists from England brought with them English laws, practises, institutions, and ideals, which they imprinted in America.

Three Social Movements

As a result of fast industrialization, urbanisation, and immigration, as well as significant population expansion, the United States witnessed an increase in social problems in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Three social movements arose in reaction to these issues, laying the groundwork for the formation of the social work profession:

1. The Charity Organization Societies movement began in 1877 in Buffalo, New York;

2. The Settlement House movement began in 1886 in New York City; and the Child Welfare movement began in 1886 in New York City as a result of several loosely related developments, including the Children's Aid Society,

3. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, both of which began in New York City in 1853 and 1875, respectively.

COS Movement

Furthermore, the COS movement aided in the establishment of today's family service organisations, as well as the practise of family casework, family counselling, social work schools, employment assistance, legal aid, and a slew of other programmes that are now integral to social work. The settlement house movement and the child welfare movement also contributed to the creation of the social work profession later on, but the origins of the profession may be found in the COS movement. Aside from these contributions, it was also responsible for the founding of the first social work publication, Charities Review, which was absorbed into The Survey in 1907 and published until 1952. The charitable organisations aimed to use science in the same manner that it had been used in medicine and engineering to improve social welfare.

Settlement House Movement

The settlement house movement was a response to the social disarray caused by extensive industry, urbanisation, and immigration. It combined social activism with social assistance. Settlement house employees established neighbourhood centres and provided services such as citizenship training, adult education, counselling, recreation, and day care through group work and neighbourhood organising tactics. The settlement house movement therefore sowed the roots of social work practises such as Group Work, Social Action, and Community Organization.

Child Welfare Movement

The New York City-based Children's Aid Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children built the foundations of a child welfare movement. However, the origins of the Child Welfare movement may be traced back to 1729, when the Ursuline nuns founded a home in New Orleans for children whose parents had been slaughtered by Indians. They were primarily concerned with "rescuing" children from deplorable living conditions or the streets and providing them suitable housing.

Q3. Discuss the nature, scope, and functions of social work. (20)

Ans) The nature, scope, and functions of social work is as follows:

Nature of Social Work

Humanitarianism is at the heart of social work. Discrimination based on caste, colour, ethnicity, sex, or religion is prohibited in social work. This means that social workers do not assume that only the strong would survive and the weak will perish in society. For social workers, those who are weak, disabled, or in need of care are equally essential. Regardless of psychological, societal, or economic differences, the individual is seen as a whole with equal worth and dignity. The social worker believes in the individual's potential while also acknowledging individual distinctions. Individuals are vital to a social worker, but society is also crucial. Social conditions have a significant impact on an individual's personality. However, the individual must ultimately face responsibility for his or her actions and behaviour. The worker must resolve the issue that is causing the client to be upset. As a result, social work is fundamentally a problem-solving profession.

Scope of Social Work

Social work research is a systematic examination aimed at uncovering new facts, testing old ideas, confirming existing theories, and determining causal linkages among the issues that a social worker is interested in. A comprehensive analysis of the given situation, including social work research and surveys, is required in order to scientifically launch any form of social work programme. The goal of social action is to bring about desired changes in order to assure social progress. The activities of social workers who use the approach of social action include raising awareness about social problems, mobilising resources, encouraging various groups of people to speak out against harmful practises, and applying pressure to enact laws. Individual and group initiatives, as well as self-help activities, are used to achieve a proper balance between community needs and solutions.

Functions of Social Work

Restoration, resource provision, and prevention are the three core functions of social work. These are interconnected and interdependent. A hearing device, for example, is recommended as a treatment for a partially deaf youngster whose social relationships have been harmed as a result of the problem. This is the therapeutic aspect. The rehabilitative element is getting used to the hearing aid.

The development and instructional components of resource provision are both important. The developmental aspect is intended to promote resource effectiveness and personality variables for effective social interaction. A talk provided by a counsellor to address family and marriage issues, for example, is an educational process.

The prevention of social dysfunction is the third function of social work. It entails the early detection, correction, or eradication of factors and situations that could obstruct social functioning. For example, establishing a youth club for males in particular locations may aid in the prevention of juvenile criminality. Pre-marital counselling for teenagers may help to avoid future marital issues.

Q4. Explain any five areas of intervention of voluntary action. (20)

Ans) The five areas of intervention of voluntary action are as follows:

Factors Motivating Voluntary Action

Religion, government, business, philanthropy, and mutual help are examples of causes that drive people to take voluntary action or sources of voluntarism. Voluntarism reflects religious organisations' missionary fervour, the government's dedication to the public interest, the profit-making impulse in business, the selflessness of ‘social superiors,' and the motive of self-help among fellowmen. Mutual aid and charity, were the two fundamental sources from which volunteer social service organisations would have arisen. They arise from the individual's and society's respective consciences. Personal interest, the desire for benefits such as experience, recognition, expertise, and status, as well as a dedication to certain principles, are all possible motivations.

At a Glance: Voluntary Organizations

Voluntary activity is largely generated by social, religious, and cultural organisations. This is made possible by groups that appeal to the public for assistance. However, this does not imply that volunteers constantly work for or with a certain organisation. The field of social service is still predominantly dominated by volunteers and non-profit organisations. There is no complete or trustworthy data on the overall number of volunteer groups in the country, as many of them do not get government funding and operate on their own. Some are national groups involved in a variety of activities, while others are state or district-level organisations. In India, a huge number of non-governmental organisations are now working on a variety of issues. They assist individuals and groups with a variety of political and other interests, contribute to the strengthening of a sense of national solidarity, and enhance democracy's participatory nature.

India's Voluntary Services

Indian voluntary organisations, like our culture, are said to have existed in ancient India. In India, the history and growth of social welfare is essentially a storey of volunteerism. The origins of this can be traced back to the nature, social setting, and attitude of Indians who believe in various forms of philanthropy.

Pre-Nineteenth-Century Voluntary Services

By collecting finances and distributing grants to hospitals, colleges, and destitute homes, communities in mediaeval India organised educational institutions, boarding schools, and libraries for students. Severe famines caused widespread hardship in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, and kings responded generously, but there was no insurgency. Poverty was addressed in the 18th century using traditional methods, such as private generosity and religious charity.

Volunteering in the Twenty-First Century

In the new millennium, India appears to be on the verge of enacting rapid basic socio-economic improvements for the good of its people. This is required to make the national climate conducive to constructive and fruitful voluntary action. Before voluntary action, new horizons are always opening. There is significantly more possibility for collective action, both statutory and volunteer, to deal with the complicated conditions of modern living.

Q5. Discuss the need for ethical behaviour in social work. (20)

Ans) The need for such behaviour in social work is important due to the following reasons:

During their interactions with clients and their significant others, social workers have access to sensitive information: The goal of the client sharing information is for the social worker to gain a deeper understanding of the situation and then assist the client in solving it. However, if the social worker unintentionally or intentionally discloses this sensitive information to others, the client's cause will be harmed, and the situation will be exacerbated. In this case, strict adherence to the idea of confidentiality is required.

Social workers are frequently placed in circumstances when their judgments have the potential to harm the client: Clients with serious problems are frequently seen by social workers. Their personalities are frequently shattered, and kids are at risk of emotional and physical violence. There is a power dynamic between the social worker and the client even when they are not working together. The case worker is more knowledgeable and has better emotional control than the client. This authority should not be utilised to the client's detriment. In some situations, the caseworker may unintentionally make a mistake that causes the client harm. When a social worker has internalised the social work principles, the odds of making such mistakes are reduced.

In both governmental and non-governmental organisations, social workers hold positions of authority: Any position of authority entails some level of responsibility. The word 'accountability' means 'to keep track of.' You have been entrusted with specific goods, and you must account for what you utilised, for what purpose, how, and to what effect after you have used them. Unlike others, social workers have an additional responsibility: they must ensure that human dignity and self-esteem are protected.

Social workers are frequently in situations to distribute resources: in most cases, allocating resources to one party entails denying resources to others who are in need. This is especially true in a country like India, where scarcity may be found practically anywhere. A social worker at an adoption centre may be asked if a certain couple is eligible to adopt a child. At least three people's lives will be affected by the social worker's decision.

Social workers have to preserve professional autonomy: In a democratic country, the government is the ultimate authority and plays an essential role in regulating other institutions. Social workers must maintain their professional autonomy. However, this control can sometimes constitute an intrusion into the private lives of professionals, which is undesirable. Government intervention is unnecessary if professionals handle their own affairs, and their professional autonomy can be safeguarded.