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
  • 14825 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

TISS Guwahati holds 12th Convocation, 116 students graduate

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati Off-Campus on Saturday held its 12th Convocation for students who graduated in 2025 at the Zubeen Garg Auditorium of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) in Guwahati. The convocation was attended by Gauhati High Court Judge Justice Soumitra Saikia as the chief guest, along with TISS Chancellor and former UGC Chairperson Prof. D.P. Singh, TISS Vice Chancellor Prof. Badri Narayan Tiwari, Officiating Registrar Dr. Narendra Mishra and Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Sunil D. Santha. Several dignitaries, including officials from KKHSOU, OKDISC and ICSSR-NERC, and Assam government adviser Dr. Keshav Kumar, IPS (Retd.), were...

PEC voices concern over press censorship in Myanmar

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, has expressed concern over the continued press censorship in Myanmar, as the military junta authorities have recently revoked the licenses of three more independent news outlets. The junta’s information ministry had lately restricted the publication of Myaelatt Athan, Red News Agency, and Asia Citizens News Agency, citing different sections of the law. Mentionable is that the South Asian nation of 55 million people witnessed a coup on 1 February 2021, when a democratically elected government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted by the then military chief Min Aung Hlaing. Since then, the junta has revoked...

Autistic aviation enthusiast sparks viral bid to rebuild Spirit Airlines

 A grassroots effort to resurrect Spirit Airlines has gone viral after being launched by Hunter Peterson, an aviation enthusiast who has spoken publicly about being autistic and his lifelong interest in airplanes. The campaign, organized through LetsBuySpiritAir.com, calls for a “community-owned airline” model in which passengers, employees and supporters would collectively fund and govern a rebooted version of the bankrupt budget carrier. The proposal spread quickly across TikTok, Reddit and X, drawing millions of views under the hashtag #Spirit2.0. Peterson, 24, a content creator, gained attention after posting a video last week in which he said, “I’m kind of autistic, and I...

Scientists Warn of GLOF Threat From Arunachal’s Khangri Glacier

Scientists conducting the 5th Khangri Glacier Expedition in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district have reported alarming geomorphological changes in the Khangri Glacier, including the formation of a potentially dangerous proglacial lake that could trigger a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Mago Chu Basin. The expedition was jointly conducted by the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies in collaboration with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research and North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology. The scientific mission began on May 4 in the transboundary Mago Chu Basin, a critical headwater region of the larger Brahmaputra river system. According...

Assam: Rain cuts in Ulfa dyke trigger pre-monsoon flood fears in Lakhimpur

Heavy pre-monsoon rainfall has caused multiple breaches, locally known as “rain cuts”, in the Ulfa dyke at Panigaon in Assam’s Lakhimpur district, raising fresh concerns of flooding in the region. The 3.7-km-long agri-bund embankment—stretching from Jorkhat-Boniyagaon to Pub-Aamtola Nepaligaon under Pachim Telahi Gaon Panchayat—is popularly known as the Ulfa dyke. It was originally constructed in 1989 by members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) with community participation. According to reports, continuous rainfall over recent weeks has led to the formation of more than 20 rain cuts along the embankment, significantly weakening its structure ahead of the...

Jorhat Hosts Key Meet on Flood Preparedness, Community Feedback Systems

A district-level convening of humanitarian organisations and civil society groups was held in Jorhat at the premises of the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), Dhekiakhowa, focusing on Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) and flood preparedness. Organised by NEADS in collaboration with the State Inter Agency Group and Roots to Branches Foundation, with support from UNICEF Assam, the meeting brought together civil society representatives, district authorities, and local humanitarian actors to strengthen coordination ahead of the flood season. The session opened with a welcome address by Tirtha Prasad Saikia, who underscored the importance of community-centred approaches...

Four Lives Lost in Guwahati’s Man-Made Floods

In a grim reminder of the city’s crumbling urban infrastructure, four lives were lost within 48 hours after heavy rains triggered widespread artificial flooding across Guwahati. What should have been a seasonal downpour instead exposed a deadly mix of neglected drains, poor planning, and administrative failure. The first victim, Payel Nath Das (around 30), a Dharapur resident working at a jewellery shop on GS Road, met a tragic end on the night of April 19. At around 9:30 pm, while wading through knee-deep water at Maligaon Chariali, she slipped into an uncovered roadside drain concealed beneath floodwaters. Her body was recovered 150–250 metres away the next morning by SDRF personnel...

Voting Underway Across Assam; Steady Turnout, Peaceful Polling

Voting for the Assam Assembly elections gathered steady momentum through the morning hours on April 9, with scenes from across the state reflecting a strong and participatory democratic exercise. By mid-morning, polling booths were already witnessing long queues, as men and women, young voters and the elderly alike, stepped out early to cast their votes. The initial hours after 9 AM saw a smooth and peaceful polling process, backed by visible security presence and efficient booth management. In Guwahati, the day unfolded with a calm yet purposeful energy. Polling stations across the city saw a steady stream of voters, many arriving with family members, some even accompanied by children,...

From Dance Floors to Screen: The Journey of Susovan Sonu Roy

Susovan Sonu Roy has steadily carved a place for himself across multiple creative fields—Bengali television, modelling, and films—building his career through persistence, training, and adaptability. Born in Howrah, Susovan spent his formative years between Kolkata and Guwahati. His early life was marked by hardship after losing his father in an accident at a young age. Raised by his mother under challenging circumstances, he went on to complete his graduation in Commerce from Dum Dum Motijheel Rabindra Mahavidyalaya in 2016. His entry into the performing arts began with dance. Driven by interest, he joined a dance institute where he trained in Western dance for nearly two years....

Row Erupts Over Alleged Foreign Wealth Links of Assam CM’s Family

A major political controversy has erupted around Himanta Biswa Sarma after the Congress party levelled serious allegations regarding the alleged accumulation of vast wealth abroad by his family, particularly involving his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. According to a report by The Wire, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that assets worth nearly ₹52,000 crore have been stashed overseas, particularly in the United States, through a company allegedly linked to the Chief Minister’s family. At a press conference in New Delhi, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds multiple foreign passports and questioned the source of such large-scale wealth. He further demanded a probe and even called...