Social Workers’ Convention at Sundarban Mela 2025: Building Future Social Workers

The much-anticipated Social Workers’ Convention, organized by MUKTI, took place at the Sundarban Mela 2025 on January 8th, bringing together social workers, educators, psychologists, and activists from various regions of West Bengal. The theme for the convention, “Building the Mind-set of Children to Become Future Social Workers,” sparked insightful discussions on the challenges faced by children and how society can nurture them into compassionate future leaders.

The event saw the participation of several prominent figures in social welfare, including Mr. Sankar Halder, the Founder-President of MUKTI, who opened the convention with a heartfelt address about the significance of addressing children’s mental health and empowerment early on. Other key speakers included Mr. Uday Mondal of Jatar Deul Sanskriti Kendra, Mrs. Papiya Saha, a renowned psychologist, Mrs. Dalia Roy, Secretary of Jeevika Development Society, and Mr. Motiur Rahaman of Karnasubarna Welfare Society, among others.

The convention served as a platform for social workers to share their thoughts on critical issues impacting children’s development and the role of social work in shaping their future. A central topic discussed was the importance of instilling the right mindset in children to encourage them to pursue social work as a career. Participants emphasized the need for value-based education, greater involvement of children in community service, and fostering empathy at a young age.

Key Issues Discussed:

A wide range of challenges concerning the upbringing and education of children were deliberated upon during the event. Social workers highlighted several key problems currently affecting children, including:

• Parenting and Duality: The pressures children face from differing expectations in family dynamics and society, which can lead to confusion and emotional distress.
• Socio-Economic Discrimination: The lingering effects of inferiority complexes due to socio-economic disparities that hamper the development of many children.
• Lack of Value Education: A critical shortage of education programs that focus on moral and ethical development, which are essential for future social workers.
• Absence of Social Concepts in Curricula: The lack of a structured curriculum that promotes social awareness, empathy, and community service among children.
• Poor Educational Environments: Many schools suffer from poor infrastructure, inadequate resources, and negative teacher-student relationships that hinder children’s growth and well-being.
• Language Education: The need for more inclusive and diverse language education to help children from different linguistic backgrounds feel represented and confident in their abilities.
• Absence of Role Models: The absence of local role models in communities who can inspire children to pursue careers in social work.
• Child Respect and Pressure: Children often face societal pressure, and there is a general lack of respect for their autonomy and voices, leading to emotional and psychological strain.
• Domestic Violence: The pervasive issue of domestic violence, which many children experience at home, and its long-lasting effects on their mental and emotional health.
• Special Care in Educational Settings: A significant lack of attention to children with special needs, both in terms of infrastructure and emotional support.
• Teacher-Student Relationship: The deterioration of teacher-student relationships, where teachers are often overburdened and unable to provide the personalized attention many students need.
• Hands-On Support: The need for more tangible, hands-on support systems in educational settings that can provide immediate solutions and mentorship for children struggling with these issues.

A Call to Action:

In response to these challenges, attendees urged for a multi-pronged approach to address the needs of children. Emphasis was placed on revising school curricula to include value education and social responsibility, along with providing training to educators on better ways to connect with and support students. It was also highlighted that society must come together to create safe, nurturing environments for children both in and outside of school, ensuring that every child has an opportunity to thrive.

Social workers agreed that the future of social work relies on shaping children into empathetic, thoughtful individuals who can advocate for the rights of others. The session concluded with a commitment from the attendees to work collectively in transforming educational and social systems, with an emphasis on supporting children to become the next generation of social workers.

The convention’s discussions are expected to serve as a catalyst for further initiatives, including workshops, community outreach programs, and policy recommendations aimed at improving the lives of children in West Bengal and beyond.