|
Birubala Rabha & Swati Paradkar receive USTM Social Work
Excellence Award
USTM conferred Excellence Awards on World
Social Work Day
9th Mile, Baridua, RiBhoi,
19 March 2019: With the theme of “promoting the
importance of human relationship,” the University of Science
& Technology, Meghalaya organized a two-day National
Convention on 18th and 19th March where this year’s Social
Work Excellence Award was conferred to Birubala Rabha,
social activist from Assam and Swati Paradkar, president of
Shri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad, Mumbai. Prof. Kalpana
Sarathy, Acting Deputy Director in Tata Institute of Social
Sciences, Guwahati received Dr Udaya Mahadevan Academic
Excellence Award conferred on the same event at USTM today.
Expressing happiness as she received the award, Birubala
Rabha, the crusader against witchcraft and witch-hunting
said, “Witchcraft and witch-hunting is a very superstitious
belief which exists even in today’s world. For decades, I
have been doing awareness campaigns. I call upon everyone to
join my mission to erase this social evil completely.” Rabha
was instrumental in the passing of the Prevention of and
Protection from Witch Hunting Act, 2015 by the Assam
Government. The active role played by Birubala Rabha in
eradication of witch-hunting is an inspiration for many who
wish to bring a positive change in the society.
Receiving the award, Swati Paradkarsaid, “This is a big
honour for me as well as the 45,000 women across India who
are active part of our organization”. Swatiben is a
self-made woman, an effective administrator, an entrepreneur
par excellence and a torch bearer of the Gandhian concept of
Sarvodaya.She joined as papad rolling sister member at a
very tender ageto mitigate the family financial crisis, at
Wadala Branch in 1971, four years after the institution was
formerly registered.
USTM Social Work Dept also instituted Dr Udaya Mahadevan
Academic Excellence Award—after the renowned academician in
Social Work who died on last Saturday (16 March 2019) and
the Award was conferred upon Prof. Kalpana Sarathy from TISS
who is specialized in the field of health social work,
mental health and gender & social work. Prof. Sarathy’s
experience in academics and research holds tremendous
involvement in Social Work Education.
Earlier, welcoming the awardees and guests, M. Hoque,
Chancellor of USTM said that the University has been
constantly trying to impart professionalism with a human
touch to students so that the students realize their social
responsibilities. During the two days of the Convention,
different sessions were taken by Prof J. Henry Rozario,
Director and Principal Consultant of Exodus Research and
Development Pvt. Ltd., Prof. Victor Paul, HOD, Dept of
Social Work, Christ University, Prof. Sanjay Bhatt, Dept of
Social Work, President NAPSWI. Some of the sessions include:
“Employability Skill Development of Youth”, “Human
Relationship for humanitarian work”, “Strategies of Youth
Development”. |
