Social work in difficult times: emerging value frame in India

Abstract

ABSTRACT The contemporary global milieu is ridden with multiple tensions and conflicts and India is no exception. India is witness to a number of challenges in its social, political and economic domains. While the tumultuous man–nature relationship has life-threatening ramifications, the social, economic and political contexts are also rife with diverse challenges characteristic of a globalised world order. The situation has been compounded by the daunting COVID pandemic, which has demonstrated the interconnectedness of global challenges and has wrought an unprecedented impact on the wellbeing of people. The social work profession in India must play a meaningful role in diffusing the crisis by promulgating values that extend and consolidate human solidarities and human environment symbiosis. Located within the context of India, and based on a reflective lifeworld approach, this article reflects on the nature and role of social work values in capacitating social workers to play a more resolute role in resolving present day predicaments. It articulates the need to look beyond generic values, glean a more context-specific value frame and herald the process of transferring these values to students through suitable means.