Cambridge Scholars Publishing Community Practices in India: Lessons from the Grassroots

As the seat of the origin of social work profession, the global North has dominated the production of social work knowledge while the global South has remained primarily the consumer of knowledge. This book is a ground-breaking collaboration by practitioners and academics from India to bring together indigenous knowledge in community organizing from the rich and vast base of experience existing within the country. The book presents case studies of community organizing that have successfully followed the agenda of social justice and social change for marginalized communities in various contexts in India. These efforts at community organizing are grounded in a critical analysis of varied societal forces that lead to oppression and marginalization of communities. The book captures the wisdom and foresight of community practitioners on approaches seen as locally relevant in India. It also presents an unprecedented example of the contribution made by the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, in addressing societal injustice and leaves the reader with thought-provoking questions around the scope and role of academic institutions towards this end. This volume will engage social work students, practitioners and educators in a critical reflection on the key concepts, processes, strategies and tensions underlying community organizing practices within the Indian context. About the Author Dr Purnima George is Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. Her practice focuses on grassroots community organizing in India and her research explores neoliberalism, globalisation and social justice and equity issues of refugee, immigrant, racialized and South Asian communities in Canada. Dr Geeta Balakrishnan is the retired Principal of the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, India. She has been engaged in social work education for the past 26 years. Her areas of interest include group work and social work training. Dr Vaijayanta Anand is an Associate Professor at the College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, India. She has been teaching in the area of social work education for more than 25 years, and has extensive experience of working with migrant labour in the informal sector. Dr Ferzana Chaze is a Professor in the School of Community Studies at Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada, where she teaches students in the Social Service Worker and Social Service Worker-Gerontology programs. Her scholarship in recent years has focused on issues related to immigration and diversity.