A profession built on the belief that people have the capacity to shape more just and humane social conditions.

Social work in India has grown into a distinct field of knowledge, professional practice and social transformation, rooted in the country’s diverse social, cultural, economic and political realities. Social Work in India: Dimensions and Directions examines this broad landscape, bringing together its historical development, philosophical foundations, professional approaches, fields of practice and emerging concerns into one comprehensive volume.

Across thirteen chapters, the book moves from the history and evolution of social work in India to its values, ethics and principles, contemporary social problems, urban and rural practice, policy advocacy, case studies and the future direction of the profession. It reflects on India’s pluralistic social structure and rich traditions of community life and voluntary action, while engaging critically with methods and theories drawn from international practice.

• Historical development, professional foundations and ethical principles of Indian social work
• Persistent and emerging concerns: poverty, inequality, displacement, migration, urbanisation and exclusion
• Case studies, policy advocacy and a forward-looking view of where the profession must go next

A comprehensive, critically reflective resource for anyone studying, teaching, researching or practising social work in the Indian context.