Date:04/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/04/stories/2006040416390700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Social work professionals urged to cash in on emerging opportunities

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: There is immense scope for social work professionals to take up social entrepreneurship and cash in on emerging opportunities, said M. Anandakrishnan, chairman of the Madras Institute of Development Studies.

The growing interest of the corporate world in demonstrating its social responsibilities provided considerable opportunities to professional social workers to participate in the corporate sector, he said, delivering the 52nd convocation address at the Madras School of Social Work on Monday.

Though, for several years, social work was mainly taken up by those fighting the cause of the disadvantaged people, of late, persons with professional knowledge and training had integrated their learning with the changing circumstances.

Major changes in the country's political system had given rise to several issues of concern to large sections of the population, which would be of interest to those engaged in social work disciplines. Besides conventional social voluntarism, social work professionals and social counsellors had vast potential in the existing scenario, he said.

In all, 87 candidates were conferred degrees and diplomas. Students Kokila Vasu, Meghna Sukumar, M. Jeeva, Sagaya Malar Vizhi, Sneha Narayanan and S.P. Mahalakshmi were awarded the general proficiency prizes.

Fatima Vasanth, principal of MSSW, was present.