TISS hosts Viksit Bharat programme to discuss social policies and development

The School of Social Work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences TISS organised a daylong programme under the Viksit Bharat Series on Sunday focusing on the theme ldquoSocial Policies and Practices Pathways to Viksit Bharatrdquo The event brought together policymakers academics social workers farmers and students to discuss inclusive development strategies for Indiarsquos futureThe programme featured panel discussions expert lectures a Shetkari Mela showcasing millets and farm products farmer interactions and a documentation corner highlighting grassroots initiativesMillets MelaInaugural session highlights policyndashpractice linkThe inaugural session was chaired by Bipin Jojo Dean of Social Work at TISS who welcomed participants and explained the vision behind the Viksit Bharat Series He noted that the initiative aims to create a platform within the institute to examine pressing social issues and explore pathways for development through policy dialogueViceChancellor Badri Narayan Tiwari emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between policy formulation and groundlevel practice stressing that policies must evolve from lived experiences and realworld challengesProf Badri Narayan Tiwari Vice Chancellor TISSDelivering the keynote address Preeti Sudan former chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission spoke about the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 She highlighted the need for policies that integrate lifecycle approachesmdashcovering childhood adolescence and youthmdashand systemlevel frameworks that strengthen governance and institutionsSudan also pointed to emerging challenges such as demographic transition fragile educationtoemployment pathways rising youth unemployment and intersectional inequalities linked to gender caste and rural location She stressed that youth should be treated as active agents in development rather than passive beneficiaries advocating participatory policymaking and dialoguedriven implementationPreeti Sudan IAS Retd and former Chairperson UPSCPanel examines youth and childrenrsquos policy challengesThe second session focused on ldquoIssues and Challenges of Youth and Children and Implications for Policyrdquo The panel discussion was facilitated by Vijay Raghavan from the School of Social WorkPanellists included Roshni Nuggehalli executive director of Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action YUVA Amita Bhide from the School of Habitat Studies at TISS social worker Santosh Shinde and Ankit Rathod of PrathamSpeakers discussed the impact of demographic shifts youth unemployment and structural vulnerabilities on young people Nuggehalli highlighted the need to connect policy with practice through lifecycle and systemic approachesBhide noted that many policies focus heavily on skill development while overlooking the dignity of labour calling for stronger links between education and employment through accessible internships and grassroots opportunities Shinde stressed that achieving a developed India requires prioritising childrenrsquos welfare pointing to concerns about child exploitation and limited budget allocations for child protectionRathod emphasised the need for an integrated system combining education skill development apprenticeships and certification along with continued support for youth transitioning into the workforceShetkari mela celebrates farmers and sustainable agricultureThe third session featured a Shetkari Mela organised by the School of Social Work bringing together farmers students faculty and partner organisationsShetkari Mela showcasing millets and farm productsFarmers associated with the Pragati Field Action Project of TISS and the NGO Srushtidnyan showcased indigenous seeds millets kitchen gardens and sustainable farming practices through stalls and discussions The event created an interactive space for participants to engage with farmersrsquo experiences and learn about ecological knowledge that supports resilient food systems and rural livelihoodsDiscussion on womenled developmentThe fourth session focused on ldquoWomenled Development for Viksit Bharatrdquo It was facilitated by Trupti Javeri Panchal who traced the evolution of gender policies from Women in Development WID to Gender and Development GAD emphasising that women today must be recognised as leaders driving social transformationPanellists included Pramila Sudhakarbabu Marupuri Divya Taneja Sweety Pathak of Society for Nutrition Education and Health Action SNEHA and Yogendra Ghorpade from Towards Advocacy Networking and Development Action TANDADiscussions addressed issues such as gaps in the criminal justice system affecting vulnerable women domestic violence trafficking and the lack of livelihood opportunities for women in prisons The panel also highlighted the historical marginalisation of Denotified Tribes calling for better recognition stronger legal protections and improved access to health education and identity documentationSpeakers also discussed support systems for survivors of violence including special police cells and One Stop Centres and emphasised communitybased approaches to improving maternal and child health in urban slumsCall for participatory policymakingThe concluding session was facilitated by Shewli Kumar and Sohini Sengupta who emphasised that policymaking must recognise social diversity and local realitiesThey argued that effective policies should emerge through bottomup participatory processes incorporating voices from communities rather than relying solely on topdown approaches Speakers also highlighted the need for stronger infrastructure especially in areas such as maternal health and greater engagement between policymakers and the publicThe discussions concluded with a consensus that inclusive participatory and contextsensitive policies are essential to achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047