Skip to content Skip to navigation

TISS Guwahati Hosts Inaugural Inhmukhawm to Strengthen Field Work Collaboration

By AT News |

Guwahati, December 18, 2024: The School of Social Work at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus, held its first-ever Inhmukhawm: Field Work Organisations’ Meet on Wednesday. The event, themed "Buen Vivr: Co-building a Sustainable and Just Future," brought together nearly 100 participants, including grassroots organizations, NGOs, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) representatives. Aligning with the International World Social Work Day 2024, the gathering focused on social work, sustainability, and justice, providing a platform for dialogue, learning, and collaborative innovation to enhance student fieldwork initiatives.

The event commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia, Campus Director, who underscored TISS’s pivotal role in advancing social work education in India. Prof. Kalpana Sarathy, Dean of the School of Social Work and Convener of Inhmukhawm, highlighted fieldwork as the cornerstone of social work education and the significance of fostering deeper partnerships with state and non-state actors. She expressed gratitude to Shri Ratan Tata, who laid the foundation stone for the campus, and acknowledged the support of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, both in his previous role as Education Minister and his current role as Chief Minister of Assam.

Dr. Shivani Chauhan Barooah, Co-convener, anchored the program, inviting faculty members to elaborate on the MASW (Master of Arts in Social Work) course structure. Detailed presentations on the curriculum were delivered by faculty, including Dr. Monica Kaothala (First-Year MASW Coordinator), Dr. Meghali Senapati (Centre for Counselling), Dr. Joseph Riamei (Centre for Community Organisation and Development Practice), Dr. Pradeep J. Ramavath (Centre for Livelihoods and Social Entrepreneurship), and Dr. Jennifer Kipgen (Centre for Public Health).

The highlight of the event was interactive group discussions facilitated by faculty members such as Dr. Razdan R. Sarim and Dr. Pomi Mahanta, involving over 40 participating organizations. These sessions explored strategies for institutional engagement in fieldwork and social work practices, providing actionable insights to build a sustainable future. The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Santhosh M.R., who emphasized the innovative suggestions for strengthening collaborations, followed by a vote of thanks by Dr. Pradeep J. Ramavath.

Adding to the vibrancy, exhibitions and information booths by over 10 organizations showcased the diverse efforts of participating stakeholders.

As the TISS Guwahati Off-Campus continues to lead in addressing critical social challenges, Inhmukhawm has laid the groundwork for collective knowledge-building and impactful partnerships, paving the way for a just and sustainable future.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org
  • 12345 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

SIT “Flop Show” Explodes: Gogoi Takes On Himanta, Puts 2026 in Play

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday launched a sharp counter-offensive against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling the much-hyped SIT report a “super flop” and accusing the CM of staging six months of political drama to divert attention from land and corruption allegations. Addressing a packed press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, Gogoi said the Chief Minister had kept the SIT report for six months, only to unveil it through a “manufactured spectacle” involving national media, which ultimately failed to produce a single piece of evidence against him. “He swung a mace in the air, but there was nothing in his hands,” Gogoi said. Flanked by MPs...

Nazira Dairy Project Collapses Amid Allegations of Mismanagement, Livelihoods Hit

A multi-crore dairy project at Sanbasa in Nazira has collapsed amid serious allegations of financial irregularities and internal mismanagement, dealing a severe blow to rural livelihoods in the area. The Sundarpukhuri Dairy Cooperative Society, formed by local farmers under the initiative of Dr. Jagadish Barman, once served as a crucial source of income for over 245 Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The cooperative reportedly contributed nearly ₹1 crore annually to the local rural economy. As part of its expansion, the cooperative launched its own marketing network under the brand name “Kareng” and set up a milk pasteurization plant at Sanbasa village. However, internal disputes...

Worse Than C-Grade Cinema’: Gogoi Attacks Assam CM

Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a recent press conference, dismissing it as “worse than a C-grade cinema” and accusing the Chief Minister of making baseless and sensational claims. The Chief Minister, however, maintained that the allegations involving Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh and Elizabeth Gogoi—wife of Gaurav Gogoi—were serious in nature and should not be treated lightly. Addressing the media, CM Sarma said the matter assumed greater significance as it involved a sitting Member of Parliament. “These are grave allegations. When a sitting MP, who...

Handique Girls’ College to Confer 3rd Rajabala Das National Award on Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty

Handique Girls’ College will confer the 3rd Rajabala Das National Award on noted author and senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, President of the Press Club of India, in recognition of her significant contributions to society and journalism. The award will be presented on March 8, 2026, at a special function to be held on the college campus. On the occasion, the Rajabala Das Memorial Annual Lecture will be delivered by eminent journalist and thinker Prasanta Rajguru, Editor-in-Chief of Prag News. Instituted in 2024, the Rajabala Das National Award is conferred annually on a personality of national stature who has made outstanding contributions to society. The award includes a...

APCC Holds Press Conference Alleging Irregularities Against Assam CM

Guwahati, 4 February: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday held a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, during which party leaders made a series of allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and launched an online platform to collect information related to their claims. The press conference was attended by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress election observer Bhupesh Baghel, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, APCC President Gaurav Gogoi, and other senior party leaders. During the event, a video titled “Who Is Himanta Biswa Sarma?” was released, followed by the launch of a QR-code-enabled template...

Gaurav Gogoi launches sharp attack on Assam BJP govt at massive Rangia rally

Guwahati, January 24: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi on Friday mounted a blistering attack on the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government, branding it a regime of “vote thieves, land thieves, cattle thieves and water thieves,” while addressing a massive public rally at Hatikholia Ground, Moranjana, near Rangia. Addressing nearly 20,000 supporters, Gogoi raised what he termed the central political question before the people of Assam—“Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?”—and said the Congress must now directly reach out to the masses. He called for the immediate formation of small outreach teams comprising youth and women to go door-to-door and explain the...

Save MGNREGA Movement launched by Congress across Assam

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday launched the nationwide “Save MGNREGA Movement” in the state, opposing the Modi-led NDA government’s move to amend the MGNREGA Act and introduce a new law under the name “VB-G RAM G”. As part of the first phase of the agitation, press conferences were held simultaneously at district headquarters across Assam, including Kamrup Metropolitan, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideu, Hailakandi, Darrang and Baksa. District Congress Committee presidents and senior party leaders addressed the media. In Guwahati, senior Pradesh Congress spokespersons Kushal Sharma, Rupak Das and Anita Devi addressed the press at the...

Indigenous Unity Call at Nibaran Bora Memorial Meet

A strong call to unite the indigenous communities of Northeast India on a common platform was made at a roundtable discussion held on January 6 to mark the 21st death anniversary of noted nationalist leader Nibaran Bora. The discussion, titled “Crisis of Indigenous Peoples of Northeast India and Its Solutions”, resolved to carry forward Bora’s vision and ideology for safeguarding indigenous identity and rights. The meeting was attended by representatives of several indigenous organisations from Assam and other Northeastern states. Uncompromising nationalist leader Hasibur Rahman, a close associate of the late leader, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the growing threat to the...

Journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi Killed in Bangladesh; PEC Demands Justice

Amid escalating political unrest ahead of its national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, Bangladesh has recorded the killing of journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi, who has become the first journalist worldwide to be murdered this year. The global media safety and rights organisation Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has strongly condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to local media reports, Bairagi (45), a resident of Arua village in the Jessore region of southern Bangladesh, was fatally shot in the head by three assailants on January 5, 2026. The editor of the Bengali daily Dainik BD Khabar was found dead at Kopalia...

HM Conspiracy Case: NIA Court Awards Life Term to Key Accused

In a major crackdown on terror networks, a special NIA court in Guwahati has convicted Md. Kamruj Zaman, a key accused in a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror conspiracy case, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Zaman, also known as Dr Hurairah and Kamaruddin, was awarded life imprisonment under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), along with two additional sentences of five years’ simple imprisonment under other UAPA provisions. All sentences will run concurrently. The court also imposed fines in each case. The case relates to a 2017–18 conspiracy to set up an HM terror module in Assam to carry out terrorist activities and spread fear. NIA investigations...