The School of Social Work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) organised a day-long programme under the Viksit Bharat Series on Sunday, focusing on the theme “Social Policies and Practices: Pathways to Viksit Bharat.” The event brought together policymakers, academics, social workers, farmers, and students to discuss inclusive development strategies for India’s future.
The programme featured panel discussions, expert lectures, a Shetkari Mela showcasing millets and farm produce, farmer interactions, and a documentation corner highlighting grassroots initiatives.
Inaugural session highlights policy–practice link
The inaugural session was chaired by Bipin Jojo, Dean of Social Work at TISS, who welcomed participants and explained the vision behind the Viksit Bharat Series. He noted that the initiative aims to create a platform within the institute to examine pressing social issues and explore pathways for development through policy dialogue.
Vice-Chancellor Badri Narayan Tiwari emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between policy formulation and ground-level practice, stressing that policies must evolve from lived experiences and real-world challenges.
Delivering the keynote address, Preeti Sudan, former chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission, spoke about the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. She highlighted the need for policies that integrate life-cycle approaches—covering childhood, adolescence, and youth—and system-level frameworks that strengthen governance and institutions.
Sudan also pointed to emerging challenges such as demographic transition, fragile education-to-employment pathways, rising youth unemployment, and intersectional inequalities linked to gender, caste, and rural location. She stressed that youth should be treated as active agents in development rather than passive beneficiaries, advocating participatory policymaking and dialogue-driven implementation.
Panel examines youth and children’s policy challenges
The second session focused on “Issues and Challenges of Youth and Children and Implications for Policy.” The panel discussion was facilitated by Vijay Raghavan from the School of Social Work.
Panellists included Roshni Nuggehalli, executive director of Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), Amita Bhide from the School of Habitat Studies at TISS, social worker Santosh Shinde, and Ankit Rathod of Pratham.
Speakers discussed the impact of demographic shifts, youth unemployment, and structural vulnerabilities on young people. Nuggehalli highlighted the need to connect policy with practice through life-cycle and systemic approaches.
Bhide noted that many policies focus heavily on skill development while overlooking the dignity of labour, calling for stronger links between education and employment through accessible internships and grassroots opportunities. Shinde stressed that achieving a developed India requires prioritising children’s welfare, pointing to concerns about child exploitation and limited budget allocations for child protection.
Rathod emphasised the need for an integrated system combining education, skill development, apprenticeships, and certification, along with continued support for youth transitioning into the workforce.
Shetkari mela celebrates farmers and sustainable agriculture
The third session featured a Shetkari Mela organised by the School of Social Work, bringing together farmers, students, faculty, and partner organisations.
Farmers associated with the Pragati Field Action Project of TISS and the NGO Srushtidnyan showcased indigenous seeds, millets, kitchen gardens, and sustainable farming practices through stalls and discussions. The event created an interactive space for participants to engage with farmers’ experiences and learn about ecological knowledge that supports resilient food systems and rural livelihoods.
Discussion on women-led development
The fourth session focused on “Women-led Development for Viksit Bharat.” It was facilitated by Trupti Javeri Panchal, who traced the evolution of gender policies from Women in Development (WID) to Gender and Development (GAD), emphasising that women today must be recognised as leaders driving social transformation.
Panellists included Pramila Sudhakarbabu Marupuri, Divya Taneja, Sweety Pathak of Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), and Yogendra Ghorpade from Towards, Advocacy, Networking and Development Action (TANDA).
Discussions addressed issues such as gaps in the criminal justice system affecting vulnerable women, domestic violence, trafficking, and the lack of livelihood opportunities for women in prisons. The panel also highlighted the historical marginalisation of De-notified Tribes, calling for better recognition, stronger legal protections, and improved access to health, education, and identity documentation.
Speakers also discussed support systems for survivors of violence, including special police cells and One Stop Centres, and emphasised community-based approaches to improving maternal and child health in urban slums.
Call for participatory policymaking
The concluding session was facilitated by Shewli Kumar and Sohini Sengupta, who emphasised that policymaking must recognise social diversity and local realities.
They argued that effective policies should emerge through bottom-up, participatory processes, incorporating voices from communities rather than relying solely on top-down approaches. Speakers also highlighted the need for stronger infrastructure, especially in areas such as maternal health, and greater engagement between policymakers and the public.
The discussions concluded with a consensus that inclusive, participatory, and context-sensitive policies are essential to achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
