Decontextualizing Social Work in India: Prospects and Challenges

February 24, 2026

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Social Work in India as a practice based profession and an academic discipline is not just relevant but indispensable as its significance marks multifaceted roles, varied functions and broadened scope in the development scenario of the nation. Social work’s role in promoting social justice, bridging policy practice gaps and empowering communities has been entailed vital. Social work like any other profession and its pertinent education largely based in humanitarian philosophy and scientific knowledge, demand due modification and advancement appropriate to to the vicinity and subjects that encompass to, abiding all developmental concerns that are arose within. Social work in India has been shaped significantly by Western theories, Eurocentric models, and pedagogies that were adopted during the colonial and post-independence periods. Though these frameworks have provided valuable insights and critical inputs in the development questions of the nation, there is growing concern about their cultural and contextual relevance to Indian realities and compliance to the developmental peculiarities of the nation. It is thus urged to decontextualise the discipline holistically to make it befitting the demand of time. The complexity of India's socio- cultural and political fabric, historical marginalization, caste hierarchies, religious diversity, and rural-urban disparities demand a localized and decolonized approach to social work education, practice, and research. Decontextualizing social work in India presents a complex interplay of prospects and challenges. It implies critically examining and reorienting its theories, methods, and interventions to align with the developmental demands, integrating indigenous knowledge and wisdom, acknowledging local socio-cultural realities, and people's lived experiences along with decolonizing development strategies which align with the particular characteristics of the social welfare needs of the country. This seminar seeks to provide a platform for academicians, practitioners, researchers, and students to engage in reflective discourse on reimagining and decontextualizing social work in India beyond Euro-western centric paradigms. Explore future prospects and challenges for creating context-sensitive, people-centered, and transformative social work frameworks in India.