SUDHAR
Dated 1st June 2002
CICWS Workshop: Community Development through Informal Care Systems:
Dr. Manohar Pawar
Translated from the following clippingRourkela: 30.05.02 (Special correspondent): Briefing a press conference regarding the ongoing 5 day workshop at Cox colony of Jharsuguda, Professor Manohar Pawar of Charles Sturt University, Australia, said - 'Utilising appropriate community traditions and practices as a medium to achieve socio-economic development is the main objective of the workshop. This method holds special significance for countries like India'. Presiding over the workshop, which was supported and the Japan Foundation, Asia Center, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities he said, 'Unlike Western Countries, the benefits of development in India on the poor has been low and the benefits are not reaching the poorest of the poor.
In this context Professor Pawar said - 'A Workshop like this can play an important role in creating public awareness about the concept of Community Informal Care and Welfare Systems and help to find direction towards development. The workshop is conducted in a place where rural area people can participate and benefit instead of in Metrocities'.
A total number of 25 participants from different levels participated in the workshop. Participants were guided on how Community Development can be achieved by maintaining proper coordination among the members of the communities. In the past, communities in India had various care systems which can also be applied today.
The Jharsuguda workshop was part of a series of workshops of the two phase initiative. In the first phase, social scientists and academics from ten Asian countries participated in a workshop in Wagga Wagga, Australia and prepared a training manual. In the second phase, nongovernment organisations concerned for Community Informal Care Systems have been activated. Earlier two workshops were organised - the first from 1st to 5th May 2002 at Patna, Bihar, the second from 13th to 17th May 2002 at Battambang, Cambodia. The workshop at Jharsuguda was the third in the series.
Besides Dr. Pawar, to give direction to the workshop were: Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Director, Arogyam Centre for Health and Development, Patna, Dr. Bipin Jojo of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and Mr. Basant Minj, Secretary, Rural Action and Human Interest (RAHI).
The workshop at Jharsuguda was organised by Charles Sturt University, Australia; Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; and Rural Action and Human Interest, a local nongovernment organisation.
