Social work students in Social Audit
(Jan 2nd to 11th 2013 Yalamanchili Manadal, Visakapatanam District)
Last year (2011) we made one experiment with Social work students in Social Audit and the experience was very encouraging. With this inspiration the first week of January
nearly 80 students (First and Second year) of Social work (Significant number of Girl students) participated in social Audit in two Mandals ( S.Rayavaram Mandal – Second year and Yalamanchli – First year students). The SSAAT and Department of M.S.W. organized two day training program for these
students in the Campus.
98 % of students belong to rural community and belong to poor families. A significant number from Dalits. Some of the students participated as wage labour in the Program in their own village.
On the First day – Giggling girls and Joyful boys
When they arrived on 2nd to Yalamanchili they came like a typical student youth on the last day this is on 11nth when I saw and talk to them, they are different.
On the last day – the transformation
On 11th morning I conducted two group discussion with them – boy and girls separately – they shared their experiences in the field. They compete each other to narrate the issues, injustice, how the lack of awareness affecting the poor, the role of govt employers and their exploitation, the rural elite and their agents in the poor and dalits, the problems of single women, how the real beneficiaries marginalized in Social Security Pensions so on. When I opened my first question their responses came like a flood. I quietly observed their eyes went dry and their faces turned red and anger in their voice. I wonder to see these feelings in the same students I saw on the first day.
All these students completed their first semester by studying Case work, group work and Community organization and also about the social stratification and other theories as a part of their academic curriculum. When I asked them about their learning’s in the class room and the current experience, one girl student immediately responded and told me “We have been studying topics in the class room for the last six months. But we have had better experiences in the field with in 10 days” and everybody accepted her statement. Not a single student complained about the facilities, food etc.
Sons and Daughters of the Soil
When they are narrating the issues and experiences with anger, I was speechless and little bit emotional and my eyes went wet. All these youth are the sons and daughters of our soil. They may not be able to speak convent English and may not know the laptops. They are not ‘professional’ but they have great roll and responsibility to fight for the rights of their own people and they are the future leaders of the mass and hope of this country.
The HOD (Head of the department of Social work ) – he came to public hearing and interacted with them – Sir asked the student Social Auditors to write their experiences
and submit when the school was re- opened ( on 21st).
The First fruit of the labour
When the students received their honorarium – Rs 1000 – they thrilled and this is their first fruit of labour as social workers that too before SANKRANTI . They told me they will remember throughout their lives.
What we learn…???
We may engage SW students who are studying in different colleges in AP. for this. We can start from North Coastal Districts. SSAAT can call the Head of the Social Work departments of these three districts and work out a plan. If SSAAT is interested the AU, Dept. of SW may take lead (because of its experience and engagement with Social Audit) for the facilitation role to this meeting. I personally involve as a student of S.W of A.U - if SSAAT interested.
With Solidarity
P.S. Ajay Kumar,
APVVU
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