India’s social sector is confronted with a range of profound and complex challenges that are frequently overlooked by mainstream social work practice and policy. This report provides a critical analysis of these systemic blind spots, positing that the nation’s most significant social issues are not merely isolated problems but are deeply intertwined through a nexus of systemic neglect and institutional failure. The analysis systematically examines seven critical domains—mental health, gender/patriarchy, caste, tribal rights, LGBTQ+ inclusion, elderly care, and climate justice—to identify the pervasive gaps in the social work profession’s response.
The core findings indicate a profession struggling with a reactive, service-oriented model that often fails to address the root, structural causes of inequality. Key gaps include: a profound educational and curricular lag that leaves practitioners unprepared for contemporary challenges; a professional hesitation to engage in direct, rights-based advocacy on politically sensitive issues; the perpetuation of institutional and practitioner biases rooted in prevailing social hierarchies; and an overreliance on overburdened public and informal care systems.
The report concludes with a multi-layered set of recommendations aimed at a strategic transformation of the social work profession. These proposals advocate for a shift from a traditional, welfare-based framework to a proactive, anti-oppressive, and rights-based model. This transformative approach calls for radical curricular reforms, the adoption of advocacy-based interventions, and a renewed commitment to holding the state and other powerful institutions accountable. This shift is essential to effectively address the deep-seated and interconnected injustices that define India’s social landscape.
🎧 Listen to the Article
Experience the content in audio form — perfect for learning on the go.
Introduction: Defining the Overlooked Social Landscape
The social sector in India faces an array of challenges, yet a critical examination reveals that many of the most widespread and severe issues are often relegated to the periphery of professional discourse and practice. This report moves beyond anecdotal observations to a rigorous, evidence-based analysis of these blind spots. The objective is to identify and dissect the issues that, despite their significant scale and human impact, receive insufficient attention from practitioners and policymakers. This analysis is grounded in the understanding that “overlooked” issues are not a matter of simple oversight but are symptomatic of a deeper, systemic failure within the social work profession.
To provide a comprehensive framework for this investigation, the report adopts an intersectional approach. This framework recognizes that social hierarchies based on caste, class, gender, and religion do not operate in isolation; instead, they intersect and interact to create unique and compounded experiences of oppression and vulnerability for marginalized populations.1 A single-axis analysis of poverty or gender-based violence, for instance, is inadequate without an understanding of how these issues are profoundly shaped by a person’s caste identity or tribal status. This theoretical lens serves as the guiding principle for the report’s deep-dive analysis, revealing the complex layers of disadvantage that social work practice must address.
The methodology for this report involves a synthesis of a wide range of information, including data and insights from academic journals, NGO reports, news articles, and official government documents. By drawing on this diverse body of evidence, the analysis aims to build a multi-faceted and well-supported argument that critically evaluates the current state of social work in India and charts a course for a more effective and just future.
🎥 Watch the Highlights
A visual summary that brings the key points to life.
A cinematic, 2m20s documentary-style examination of India’s most overlooked social issues and the systemic gaps in social work practice. Through symbolic visuals and minimalist on-screen text, we confront: 197.3 million Indians with mental disorders and an 85% treatment gap; Adivasis (8.6%) accounting for over 40% of displaced people; patriarchy’s blindspots—over 50% of men report domestic violence and 20 women die daily from dowry-related violence; caste exclusion affecting 165 million with ~34% conviction rates under SC/ST laws; projected elderly population of ~320 million by 2050; and climate shocks driving PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A final segment critiques social work education, bias, and reluctance to pursue rights-based advocacy. If this resonated, please like and share. #SocialWork #India #MentalHealth #ClimateJustice #TribalRights #Caste #ElderlyCareA Deep Dive into Key Overlooked Social Issues: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis
This section provides a systematic analysis of the five most significant, yet insufficiently addressed, social issues in India. The discussion for each issue provides a comprehensive overview of the problem, a diagnosis of the specific gaps in social work practice, and a deeper exploration of the interconnected factors that contribute to their neglect.
📊 Explore the Interactive Dashboard
Dive deeper with dynamic tools and data you can explore yourself.
India’s Overlooked Social Issues
An interactive analysis of critical gaps in social work practice and their impact on vulnerable communities. Select an issue below to explore the data.
A Nation at a Crossroads
India faces profound social challenges that are often hidden in plain sight. The following key statistics represent the scale of five overlooked issues where social work intervention is critically needed but systematically under-supported. Each area reveals a gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities for millions.
The Silent Crisis: Mental Health
With nearly 200 million people affected by mental health disorders, India faces a staggering public health challenge. This section explores the vast treatment gap and the pervasive stigma that prevents individuals from seeking help, a domain where social workers are crucial but face immense cultural and resource barriers.
The Stigma Barrier
A significant majority of individuals with mental health conditions in India do not seek professional support. This reluctance is deeply rooted in social stigma, lack of awareness, and the inaccessibility of non-judgmental care.
The donut chart illustrates this reality, showing the small fraction who actively seek help. Social workers are vital for community outreach and counseling, but they require specialized training and support to effectively challenge these deep-seated cultural norms and build trust.
Development’s True Cost: Tribal Rights
India’s Adivasi (tribal) communities, the traditional protectors of the nation’s forests, are disproportionately affected by development-induced displacement. This section visualizes the stark disparity between their share of the population and their share of the displacement burden, highlighting a systemic issue of marginalization.
A Disproportionate Burden
The bar chart starkly contrasts the Adivasi share of India’s population with their overwhelming representation among those displaced by projects like mines, dams, and industrial plants. While constituting less than 9% of the population, they account for over 40% of the displaced.
This data points to a systemic failure to protect their rights under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Social work practice in these areas is fraught with challenges, requiring advocacy and conflict resolution skills to navigate powerful corporate and state interests.
Beyond Decriminalization: LGBTQ+ Inclusion
While Section 377 was struck down in 2018, the fight for true social inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals is far from over. This section details the pervasive discrimination faced by the community across various facets of life, areas where affirming and knowledgeable social work is desperately needed.
Daily Battles for Dignity
The chart below quantifies the discrimination reported by LGBTQ+ individuals in India, from rejection by their own families to bias in accessing healthcare and housing. These are not abstract issues but daily realities that cause immense psychological and material harm.
These statistics underscore the need for social workers trained in queer-affirmative practices who can provide counseling, create safe spaces, and advocate for policy changes in institutions that perpetuate discrimination.
The Silver Tsunami: Elderly Care
India’s demographic landscape is shifting rapidly, with the elderly population set to become one of the largest in the world. This section examines the projected growth and the critical lack of social security, highlighting a looming crisis for which the nation’s social support systems are unprepared.
Projected Population Growth
The elderly population is projected to more than double by 2050.
The Missing Safety Net
An overwhelming majority lack any formal social security.
This dual challenge—a rapidly growing elderly population and a near-total absence of a social safety net—demands urgent attention. Geriatric social work is a nascent field in India, and there is a critical need for professionals who can assist with healthcare access, elder abuse prevention, and creating community-based support systems.
The Frontlines of a Crisis: Climate Justice
Climate change disproportionately impacts India’s most vulnerable populations. This section uses a Climate Vulnerability Index to show which states are most at risk, illustrating how environmental issues are inseparable from social justice and require a new form of “green social work.”
Mapping Vulnerability
The bubble chart displays state-level vulnerability to climate change. The position reflects a vulnerability score (higher is worse), while the size of the bubble indicates the relative size of the population at risk. States with high poverty and dependence on agriculture, like Jharkhand and Bihar, are exceptionally vulnerable.
Social workers are increasingly called upon to address climate-induced migration, resource conflict, and disaster-related trauma, yet few possess the ecological knowledge or training to effectively intervene at the intersection of climate and social policy.
The Root of the Problem: Systemic Gaps
The failure to address these critical issues is not due to a lack of effort from individual practitioners, but from deep-seated, systemic flaws in the social work ecosystem. The following diagram illustrates the journey from education to practice and the key points of failure.
Outdated University Curriculum
Social work education often relies on theoretical frameworks that do not address contemporary issues like climate justice, digital mental health, or queer-affirmative care. Graduates enter the field unprepared for the complexity of modern challenges.
Lack of Field Specialization
A generic curriculum produces generalists, but the issues demand specialists. There is a severe lack of focused training in geriatrics, tribal law and advocacy, or environmental social work, leaving practitioners ill-equipped.
Severe Resource Constraints
Practitioners are chronically underfunded, underpaid, and overworked. High caseloads and low resources lead to burnout and prevent the delivery of high-quality, sustained interventions. The work is often devalued and unsupported by the state.
Institutional & Political Barriers
Even with the right skills, social workers often face institutional apathy or political opposition when advocating for marginalized groups, limiting their ability to effect meaningful, systemic change.
The Mental Health Crisis: A Silent Epidemic
The scale of the mental health crisis in India is immense, yet it remains a profoundly overlooked area in both public policy and social work practice. An estimated 197.3 million people in India have mental disorders, with a weighted prevalence of any mental morbidity at 10.6% and a lifetime prevalence of 13.7%.3 Despite this staggering burden, the treatment gap for common mental disorders is estimated to be as high as 85%.5 The economic consequences are equally alarming, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that economic losses due to mental health conditions could reach an estimated USD 1.03 trillion between 2012 and 2030.6
Social work practice in this domain is profoundly hampered by a lack of resources and a persistent societal stigma. The budgetary allocation for mental health in India is a meager 0.06% of the health budget, a stark contrast to the 4% spent by many developed nations.3 Deep-rooted cultural taboos and a lack of awareness act as a roadblock to help-seeking, leading people to suffer in silence or seek help from non-specialized providers.5 Furthermore, social workers themselves are unprepared for this challenge. Social work curricula and NGOs often lack specialized mental health training, which leads to high rates of burnout and heavy caseloads for practitioners who feel ill-equipped to provide essential services like counseling and crisis intervention.1
A deeper examination reveals that the mental health crisis is not a standalone issue but is a profound consequence of other social and economic problems. For example, the high rates of farmer suicides, which are a form of mental distress, are directly linked to socioeconomic stressors, agricultural distress, and the uncertainties of climate change.7 A recent review of studies covering 88 lakh individuals explicitly connected climate-related disasters like floods, cyclones, and heat waves to psychological effects, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.9 This establishes a clear causal chain where environmental and economic insecurity lead to widespread mental health issues and suicidal ideation. The current social work practice, which largely fails to address the economic and environmental root causes of this distress, is consequently incomplete.
The state’s response, while existing in the form of schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN), often falls short. These programs are criticized for being a “one-size-fits-all” approach that excludes vulnerable populations like landless laborers and fails to address the underlying structural causes of agricultural distress.10 This underscores a significant gap in social work practice: the profession’s failure to engage in systemic advocacy for policy reform, moving beyond individual counseling to address the macro-level factors that trigger mental health crises.
| Key Mental Health Indicators | Data |
| Population affected by mental disorders | ≈197.3 million 1 |
| Overall weighted prevalence of mental morbidity | 10.6% 3 |
| Lifetime prevalence of mental morbidity | 13.7% 4 |
| People in need of active interventions | ≈150 million 3 |
| Treatment gap for common disorders | ≈85% 5 |
| Budgetary allocation for mental health | 0.06% of health budget 3 |
| Urban vs. Rural prevalence | 13.5% in urban metros vs. 6.9% in rural areas 3 |
Gender and Patriarchal Barriers: A Structural Blind Spot
Patriarchal norms are deeply embedded in Indian society, shaping power dynamics and influencing every sector, including social work.1 While social workers have historically focused on high-profile issues like domestic violence, this selective attention has created significant blind spots. Broader, systemic gender-based concerns, such as the unpaid care burden, workplace bias, and the complex issue of male victims of domestic violence, receive little to no sustained intervention.1
The legal and social support infrastructure for domestic violence in India is heavily skewed towards women. While there are numerous laws and NGOs dedicated to supporting female victims 13, there is a notable absence of legal provisions and a robust support system for men who face abuse.12 Research indicates that over 50% of men in India experience domestic violence, yet these cases are underreported due to social stigma, fear of false accusations, and the prevailing stereotype that it is “unmanly” for a man to be assaulted by a woman.12 While some men’s welfare NGOs exist, they are often focused on issues of legal misuse rather than providing comprehensive social work support for male victims.15
Dowry-related violence, which results in an average of 20 women dying every day, is not an isolated crime but a manifestation of a broader, deeply entrenched patriarchal system.17 This practice is normalized as “gifts” and is supported by a system that devalues women’s autonomy and economic independence.17 The violence is not random but is a form of structural oppression.
The analysis is further complicated by the intersection of gender and caste. The concept of “Brahmanical patriarchy” reveals how the patriarchal system is fortified by the caste system, creating a unique and amplified experience of oppression for Dalit women.19 While upper-caste women are subjected to a form of patriarchy that controls their sexuality to preserve “caste purity,” Dalit women’s bodies are often commodified and subjected to more public and extreme forms of sexual violence by upper-caste men.19 This dual burden of discrimination leads to higher rates of violence, poorer health outcomes, and limited access to resources for Dalit women.2 A generic feminist social work approach is consequently insufficient. The profession must adopt a nuanced, intersectional perspective that acknowledges and addresses the specific struggles of women at the intersection of gender and caste, challenging the power dynamics that exploit their bodies and labor.
| Gendered Violence and Support Systems | Status | Data/Sources |
| Violence against Women | ||
| Dowry-related deaths | Widespread, daily occurrence | An average of 20 women die every day 17 |
| Spousal violence | High prevalence | 37.2% of married women experience spousal violence 13 |
| Legal/Policy Framework | Extensive but with implementation gaps | Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), Section 498A IPC, Domestic Violence Act (2005) 17 |
| Support Systems | Robust but limited in scope | Helplines, One Stop Centres, and NGOs like Swayam, Aks Foundation 13 |
| Violence against Men | ||
| Domestic violence | Overlooked and underreported | Over 50% of men report experiencing domestic violence 12 |
| Legal/Policy Framework | Absent/Unacknowledged | No specific laws for male victims 12 |
| Support Systems | Minimal and often reactive | Helplines from men’s rights NGOs (e.g., SIF ONE Helpline) 15 |
Caste-Based Exclusion: The Enduring Stain of Apartheid
Caste discrimination is one of India’s most pervasive and deeply rooted social issues, affecting over 165 million people who are relegated to a lifetime of discrimination and violence.21 This descent-based and hereditary system manifests in extreme poverty, social ostracism, economic boycotts, and violence, reinforcing a cycle of intergenerational disadvantage that social work practice, if not consciously anti-caste, can inadvertently perpetuate.20
A critical gap in the social work profession is the pervasive presence of practitioner bias. Analyses have found that social workers, particularly those from upper castes, may carry unconscious biases that lead them to overlook caste-related trauma or fail to advocate for Dalit rights.1 An anecdotal account from a social worker in Nepal powerfully illustrates this, describing how their own privileged background created a barrier to understanding the daily hardships and discrimination faced by lower-caste communities.22
The disconnect between law and reality is another significant gap. While legal safeguards like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act exist, their implementation is woefully inadequate.1 The law is often weakened by legal loopholes and institutional neglect, with a low conviction rate that declined from 42.4% in 2020 to approximately 34% by 2022.23 In a particularly egregious example of this neglect, a key relief scheme for victims of atrocities was surreptitiously discontinued, resulting in the denial of over ₹1,140 crores to more than 44,000 victims.24 This systemic failure to implement existing laws means that the legal framework, rather than protecting marginalized communities, serves as a performative measure that does not translate into justice.
The failure of the social work profession to address caste issues stems from a curricular lag. Traditional social work education has historically centered on generic concepts of individual empowerment and community development, which are insufficient to confront the structural impediments of caste.25 A review of conventional syllabi reveals a superficial mention of the “uplift of Dalits” without a dedicated, anti-caste framework.26 This suggests that the profession is not preparing practitioners to identify and challenge caste-based discrimination as a primary cause of social problems. For social work to be effective, it must undergo a radical curricular reform, integrating the ideas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and foregrounding the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups.25
| SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act: Implementation Failures | Data/Finding |
| Low Conviction Rate | Declined from ≈42.4% in 2020 to ≈34% by 2022 23 |
| Legal Loopholes | The Act’s emphasis on punishment fails to address root social and economic inequalities 23 |
| Non-establishment of Special Courts | Mandated by the Act but only a few states have created separate courts 23 |
| Inadequate Justice Delivery | Main reasons include non-registration of FIRs, investigation delays, and lack of witness protection 23 |
| Discontinued Victim Relief | The Dr. Ambedkar National Relief to the SC/ST Victims of Atrocities Scheme was discontinued, denying over ₹1,140 crores to victims 24 |
| Practitioner Bias | Upper-caste social workers may carry unconscious biases, undermining equity 1 |
Tribal and Indigenous Rights: The Cost of “Development”
India’s Adivasi (indigenous tribal) populations are among the most marginalized groups in the country, facing systematic land dispossession, displacement, and violence.1 Their struggles are a direct consequence of “development” projects and corporate land grabs that sever their deep-rooted connection to their lands, forests, and water sources.29
Despite constitutional safeguards and landmark legislation like the Forest Rights Act (FRA), the rights of tribal communities remain unprotected due to a systemic, top-down bureaucratic approach. The FRA, intended to recognize the traditional rights of forest dwellers, is plagued by implementation failures.31 Over 1.86 million individual claims have been rejected, and nearly 750,000 remain pending.32 The law mandates that the “final decision on claims lies with the District Level Committee,” effectively overriding the authority of the community-level Gram Sabhas and empowering a bureaucracy that often treats tribal communities as “encroachers”.31 For instance, in Karnataka, a staggering 86% of all FRA claims have been rejected.33
The professional social work sector’s response to this crisis has been minimal. Mainstream social workers often lack the cultural competence to engage with tribal communities, and social service programs are rarely tailored to their unique cultures or land-rights issues.1 This gap is exacerbated by the political repression faced by tribal rights activists. The targeting and criminalization of human rights defenders, such as Jesuit priest Father Stan Swamy and activist Umar Khalid, create a chilling effect that dissuades NGOs and social workers from engaging in activism and advocacy for politically sensitive issues.1
This is a structural problem rooted in an alliance between corporate interests and state power. The violence against Adivasi communities is not random; it is a direct consequence of an extractive economic model.30 The government’s “development dream” is often a false promise, as seen in the case of Adivasis in Orissa being shot dead while defending their land against a takeover by a steel company.30 The report from this incident notes that the real agenda is to render local peasants “landless” to make way for corporate projects.30 An effective social work practice must acknowledge and confront this reality, shifting from a traditional welfare-based model to a rights-based advocacy framework that directly challenges the top-down approach of the state and the corporate-state nexus.
| Implementation Status of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) | Data |
| Total Claims Filed | ≈5.12 million 32 |
| Individual Claims Rejected | ≈1.86 million 32 |
| Individual Claims Pending | ≈749,673 32 |
| Claims Approved | ≈2.39 million individual, 1.21 lakh community 32 |
| State-level Rejection Example | Karnataka: 86% of claims rejected 33 |
| Bureaucratic Authority | Final decision on claims lies with the District Level Committee, not the Gram Sabha 32 |
An Aging Nation’s Unmet Needs: The Geriatric Challenge
India is undergoing a profound demographic shift, with its population rapidly aging. By 2050, roughly one-fifth of the population, or approximately 320 million people, will be aged 60 or older.1 Despite this immense and growing demographic, the country is profoundly unprepared for the resulting social, economic, and health challenges.35
The primary gap in social work practice is the absence of a developed geriatric social work sector. Social work education in India has traditionally emphasized interventions for children and women, leaving a critical void in professional expertise for the elderly.1 The country’s public support system is weak, leading to an over-reliance on traditional, family-based care, which is a double-edged sword.36 While family support has been a historical norm, the breakdown of traditional family structures and the pressures of urbanization mean that this dependence often leads to neglect and abuse.37
Research indicates that the family, rather than being a sanctuary, is often the primary site of elder abuse. A study of urban slums found that 19.4% of older adults reported some form of abuse, with their sons and daughters-in-law identified as the main perpetrators.38 Another study found that older women had a 30% higher chance than men of experiencing abuse and that living with a spouse or other family members increased their vulnerability.39 This data reveals a critical flaw in the assumption that “aging in place” within the family is always the safest or most desirable outcome. Social work must be equipped to identify and intervene in situations of domestic elder abuse and to advocate for alternative, community-based care models.
The marginalization of the elderly is not just social but also economic and digital. Many seniors live in poverty due to a weak pension system and a lack of reliable income sources.35 This financial vulnerability is compounded by a significant digital divide; a survey found that only 13% of people aged 60 or older have ever used the internet.35 This digital exclusion makes them more susceptible to financial fraud and hinders their access to essential online services and information.37 Geriatric social work must therefore expand beyond traditional caregiving to include digital literacy programs and financial advocacy to ensure the autonomy and protection of seniors in a modernizing economy.
| Prevalence of Elder Abuse in India | Prevalence | Source |
| Overall prevalence of elder abuse | 5.22% | 39 |
| Prevalence in urban slums | 19.4% | 38 |
| Psychological abuse | 11.6% | 39 |
| Financial abuse | 6.8% | 39 |
| Neglect | 4.2% | 39 |
| Physical abuse | 2.6% | 39 |
| Higher risk for women | 30% higher chance of abuse than men | 39 |
| Main perpetrators of abuse | Sons and daughters-in-law | 38 |
Other Overlooked Issues: Extending the Intersectional Lens
The social work sector’s blind spots extend to other crucial areas that require a re-evaluation of current practice and education. The following issues demonstrate a similar pattern of neglect rooted in societal stigma and a professional reluctance to engage with emerging or politically sensitive domains.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Despite the landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling that decriminalized homosexuality, the Indian LGBTQ+ community continues to face heavy stigma, discrimination, and violence.1 Societal prejudice persists, manifesting in hate crimes, police abuse, and the prevalence of “corrective rapes” for lesbians.41 The community faces significant barriers in accessing basic services, including healthcare, employment, and housing, which are often hindered by a lack of understanding and discrimination from service providers.40
A significant gap in social work practice is the widespread lack of training and awareness about LGBTQ+ issues.1 Many practitioners feel unprepared to support queer clients, and gender and sexuality issues are often deprioritized in social work curricula and field practice.1 The work of pioneering NGOs, such as The Humsafar Trust, provides a model for what effective social work in this area could look like.42 The Trust provides specialized legal, mental health, and crisis support, demonstrating that a community-based, rights-affirming approach is necessary to address the psychological and social needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This model serves as a blueprint for a professional social work practice that can move beyond passive acceptance to active advocacy and support.
Climate and Environmental Justice
Climate change and environmental degradation are critical social issues that have been largely sidelined by the Indian social work sector.1 Climate-related shocks like floods, droughts, and heat waves disproportionately harm marginalized communities, exacerbating existing poverty and social inequalities.1 For example, the economic impact is immense, with a report indicating that India may lose 3–10% of its GDP annually by 2100, disproportionately affecting the poor who rely on natural resources.1
The primary gap in the social work profession is an educational one. A review of social work curricula found that climate change and environmental justice have been largely “overlooked”.1 Historically, training has focused on traditional areas like family and health, leaving practitioners without the perspective or tools to help climate-affected populations adapt or engage in “green advocacy”.1 The interconnectedness of climate, health, and economic stability necessitates a new approach. The field must integrate environmental justice principles into its curricula, enabling social workers to respond proactively to climate-driven inequality and advocate for sustainable, community-based solutions.43
Synthesizing the Overarching Gaps in Indian Social Work
A comprehensive analysis of these diverse social issues reveals a set of shared, overarching gaps in Indian social work practice. These gaps are not isolated but reflect a broader institutional and professional failure to adapt to the complexities of a rapidly changing and deeply stratified society.
Educational and Curricular Lag: A consistent theme across all domains is a profound lag in social work education. Traditional curricula often fail to integrate a critical, anti-oppressive framework and lack specialized training in emerging or overlooked fields like geriatric social work, climate justice, and mental health.1 This leaves practitioners unprepared for the complex and intersectional nature of contemporary social problems.
The Disconnect from Rights-Based Advocacy: There is a professional hesitation to engage in direct advocacy on politically sensitive issues. The profession has, at times, functioned as an “agent of social control,” upholding the norms of a colonial, racist society rather than actively challenging them.44 This has led to an over-emphasis on delivering services within a broken system rather than engaging in the difficult, and sometimes dangerous, work of demanding systemic change.
Institutional and Practitioner Bias: The analysis demonstrates that social workers themselves, as products of society, can carry and reproduce unconscious biases based on caste, class, and gender.1 This internal bias can lead to the unintentional neglect of trauma and the perpetuation of existing social hierarchies, compromising the very goals of equity and social justice.
Overburdened Systems and Resource Constraints: The social work sector operates within a context of severe resource shortfalls. Public health and social services are overburdened and underfunded, leading to high caseloads and practitioner burnout.1 While these are significant challenges, they are also symptoms of a broader institutional failure to prioritize social welfare, forcing social work to operate in a perpetually reactive and crisis-driven mode.
Strategic Recommendations for a Transformed Social Work Practice
Addressing the profound and interconnected gaps in Indian social work requires a multi-level strategic transformation. The following recommendations are designed to move the profession from its current reactive state to a proactive, anti-oppressive, and rights-based model.
Academic and Curricular Reforms
A fundamental retooling of social work education is paramount. The profession must adopt a new, decolonized, and intersectional framework that is mandatory across all social work programs. Curricula should be reformed to include specialized courses in areas of neglect, such as geriatric social work, climate justice, and anti-caste work. Drawing inspiration from innovative programs, such as the M.A. in Social Work in Dalit and Tribal Studies and Action at TISS, which focuses on the historical processes and challenges facing Scheduled Castes and Tribes, social work education can be redesigned to train practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and ethical principles required to combat systemic oppression.25 A new pedagogy that encourages critical self-reflection on practitioner biases and the role of power and privilege is also essential to foster a new generation of socially conscious and effective professionals.
Institutional and Advocacy-Based Interventions
Social work institutions, including NGOs and governmental agencies, must shift their focus from a purely service-oriented approach to one that actively engages in policy advocacy. This involves holding the state accountable for the vigorous implementation of its own laws, such as the Forest Rights Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. New models for community-based care, citing successful examples like the VOSARD model for elderly empowerment through self-help groups, should be developed and scaled.45 Additionally, mental health care should be integrated into community-level programs, as demonstrated by organizations like Sangath, which train community health workers to deliver interventions in low-resource settings.46 The profession must also prioritize the professionalization and protection of social workers and activists who are on the front lines of politically sensitive issues, ensuring their safety and empowering them to continue their work without fear of repression.
Policy-Level Recommendations
At the policy level, a multi-ministerial approach is required to address the interconnected nature of these social issues. Legal reforms must be enacted to strengthen the rights of vulnerable communities and close the implementation gaps in existing laws. This includes ensuring that the Forest Rights Act and the SC/ST Act are enforced with rigor and that victims are provided with timely justice and compensation. Furthermore, a significant increase in budgetary allocation for social welfare and mental health is imperative. The current funding levels are grossly insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Finally, policies must be designed to promote digital inclusion for the elderly, protect them from financial fraud, and support community-based, non-institutional care models that respect the autonomy and dignity of seniors.
Conclusion
The findings of this report indicate that a truly effective social work practice in India must transcend its traditional paradigms. The interconnected nature of social problems, where caste intersects with gender, poverty is exacerbated by climate change, and mental distress is a consequence of economic precarity, demands a holistic and integrated response. The systemic neglect of issues ranging from tribal land rights to elder abuse is a consequence of professional blind spots rooted in educational deficiencies, institutional biases, and a failure to engage in direct, rights-based advocacy.
The path forward for Indian social work is a critical and challenging one. It requires the profession to undergo a profound self-assessment and transformation, embracing a more radical and anti-oppressive practice that acknowledges and confronts the structural causes of inequality. By reorienting its focus from a welfare-based model to one that actively champions human rights, social work can move beyond merely alleviating symptoms to genuinely addressing the nation’s most profound and enduring social injustices. The future of the profession, and its ability to create a more equitable society, hinges on this fundamental shift.
Frequently Asked Questions on Social Issues in India
What is the difference between a social problem and a public issue?
A social problem is a condition that a large number of people in a society consider undesirable, such as poverty or discrimination. A public issue, on the other hand, is a more broadly recognized problem that affects the entire community and often requires collective action, like climate change or public health crises. The two are closely linked, but a public issue often has a wider systemic impact and is more likely to be a topic of political debate.
Why is there a gap between laws and social reality in India?
The gap between laws and social reality, as seen in the article’s examples of LGBTQ+ rights and tribal land protection, is often due to a lack of implementation and deep-seated societal attitudes. While laws can be passed quickly, changing long-held traditions, beliefs, and prejudices takes much longer. This disconnect highlights the importance of social work, education, and grassroots movements in bridging the divide between legal frameworks and everyday life.
How does urbanization affect traditional family support systems?
Urbanization often weakens traditional family support systems by promoting nuclear family structures over joint families. As people migrate to cities for work, they may leave behind their extended families, reducing the immediate support available for vulnerable groups like the elderly or single mothers. This shift creates a greater need for formal social security and professional social work services.
What is the role of technology in addressing social issues?
Technology can be a powerful tool for social change. It can increase access to information, connect marginalized communities, and help social workers coordinate their efforts more efficiently. For example, digital platforms can be used to provide remote mental health counseling or to organize advocacy campaigns for tribal rights. However, technology also brings challenges, such as the digital divide, which can exclude those without access to devices or the internet.
How do social issues affect India’s economic development?
Social issues like poverty, illiteracy, and gender inequality can significantly hinder a country’s economic development. They create a less productive workforce, strain public services, and can lead to social unrest. For example, the lack of mental healthcare mentioned in the article can result in decreased productivity and increased healthcare costs, impacting the national economy.
Why is mental health often overlooked as a social issue?
Mental health is frequently overlooked due to the pervasive stigma and lack of public awareness. Many societies, including India, still view mental illness as a personal weakness rather than a medical condition. This stigma prevents individuals from seeking help and leads to a lack of government funding and institutional support, creating a significant treatment gap.
Can social work be a viable career path in India?
Despite the challenges of resource constraints and burnout, social work is a crucial and growing field in India. As social issues become more complex and traditional support systems weaken, the demand for trained professionals is rising. There is a strong need for specialized social workers in areas like geriatric care, climate justice, and mental health, making it a meaningful career path for those committed to creating positive change.
How do global issues, like climate change, impact local communities in India?
Global issues like climate change have severe local impacts, especially on the most vulnerable communities. For instance, extreme weather events can lead to crop failure and displacement, disproportionately affecting farmers and tribal populations who rely on natural resources. The concept of “climate justice” highlights that those who contributed least to the problem often suffer the most from its consequences.
What is the importance of a human rights-based approach to social work?
A human rights-based approach to social work ensures that the dignity and rights of every individual are at the center of all interventions. It moves beyond a charity model and empowers communities to advocate for themselves. This is particularly relevant in India when addressing issues like displacement or discrimination, where the goal is to protect fundamental rights rather than simply provide temporary aid.
How can individuals contribute to solving these social problems?
Individuals can contribute to solving social problems in numerous ways. This can include volunteering with local NGOs, donating to organizations that support a specific cause, or simply raising awareness about an issue within their own social circles. Advocating for policy changes, supporting ethical businesses, and challenging social stigma are also powerful ways to create a ripple effect of positive change.
Works Cited
- “‘About half of forest rights claims distributed’: MoEFCC in Lok Sabha – Hindustan Times,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/about-half-of-forest-rights-claims-distributed-moefcc-in-lok-sabha-101755514552168.html
- “About Us – Humsafar Trust,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://humsafar.org/about-us/
- “Adivasis as Ecological Warriors: Colonial Laws and Post-Colonial Adivasi Resistance in India’s Jharkhand – MDPI,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/8/4/130
- “AMBEDKAR’S HISTORICAL ANALYSIS AND SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION: RECLAIMING OPPRESSED NARRATIVES IN THE INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM Devidas,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.viirj.org/specialissues/2025/SP2502/58.pdf
- “Are men defenceless against domestic violence laws? What SC says about men’s rights in these cases – The Economic Times,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://m.economictimes.com/wealth/legal/will/are-men-defenceless-against-domestic-violence-laws-what-sc-says-about-mens-rights-in-these-cases/articleshow/118726168.cms
- “Blog 97- Farmers’ Suicides in India: Trends, Risk Factors and Prevention | AESA,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://aesanetwork.org/blog-97-farmers-suicides-in-india-trends-risk-factors-and-prevention/
- “Caste Exclusion and Health Discrimination in South Asia: A Systematic Review – PMC,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8592103/
- “Challenges of Elderly Caregiving in the Indian Subcontinent: A Scoping Review – PMC,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12360463/
- “Climate related disasters increasing mental health risks in India, says KGMU study,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/climate-related-disasters-increasing-mental-health-risks-in-india-says-kgmu-study/articleshow/123984459.cms
- “Community Based Elder Care Through Self Help Groups the Vosard Model of Elder Empowerment – ResearchGate,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393189018_Community_Based_Elder_Care_Through_Self_Help_Groups_the_Vosard_Model_of_Elder_Empowerment
- “Community-Based Mental Health Services in India: Current Status and Roadmap for the Future – Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://consortium-psy.com/jour/article/view/92
- “Destruction to development: How Adivasi groups organised for land and fishing rights,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://idronline.org/article/rights/destruction-to-development-how-adivasi-groups-organised-for-land-and-fishing-rights/
- “Domestic Abuse Help in India – DomesticShelters.org,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.domesticshelters.org/en-in/domestic-abuse-help-in-india
- “Domestic Violence | Deserted Indian Women – Consulate General of India, San Francisco, California,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.cgisf.gov.in/page/domestic-violence-deserted-indian-women/
- “Dowry-related Violence Continues to Claim the Lives of India’s Daughters – The Diplomat,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://thediplomat.com/2025/08/dowry-related-violence-continues-to-claim-the-lives-of-indias-daughters/
- “Farmer Suicides – Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.mshrc.gov.in/pdf/internship/winter-program/Fact%20Finding%20report%20during%20WIP%202023.pdf
- “Forest Rights Act: 86% of Claims Rejected in Karnataka, Tribals Fear Eviction,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/ejected-from-forests-long-ago-dwellers-claims-now-rejected-almost-en-masse-3684109
- “Hidden Apartheid | Caste Discrimination against India’s ‘Untouchables’ | HRW,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.hrw.org/report/2007/02/12/hidden-apartheid/caste-discrimination-against-indias-untouchables
- “IDR Explains: Forest Rights Act (FRA) – India Development Review,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://idronline.org/features/rights/idr-explains-forest-rights-act-fra/
- “India: Adivasis shot dead defending their land against takeover to Tata Steel,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/india-adivasis-shot-dead-defending-their-land-against-takeover-to-tata-steel
- “India: Joint statement urging Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid – International Commission of Jurists,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.icj.org/india-joint-statement-urging-indian-authorities-to-immediately-and-unconditionally-release-human-rights-defender-and-student-activist-umar-khalid/
- “Indigenous Rights – National Association of Social Workers,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/Ethnicity-Race/Racial-Equity/Indigenous-Rights
- “Intersectionality and Gender Equality: Addressing Multiple Forms of Discrimination in India,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://sleepyclasses.com/intersectionality-and-gender-equality-addressing-multiple-forms-of-discrimination-in-india/
- “Intersections of Gender, Caste, and Patriarchy in India,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://gender.study/gender-based-violence/gender-caste-patriarchy-india/
- “Master of Arts in Social Work (Dalit and Tribal Studies and Action) – Admissions | TISS,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://admissions.tiss.ac.in/view/10/admissions/ma-admissions/m-a-social-work-in-dalit-tribal-studies-and-action/
- “Men Welfare Trust: Home,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.menwelfare.in/
- “Mental Health in Rural India: Bridging the Accessibility Gap,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://careme.health/blog/mental-health-in-rural-india-bridging-the-accessibility-gap
- “Mental Health: Current Issues and Challenges in India,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://journalofcomprehensivehealth.co.in/mental-health-current-issues-and-challenges-in-india/
- “Mental health – India – World Health Organization (WHO),” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/mental-health
- “Mental health in India: Sociocultural dimensions, policies and programs – An introduction to the India Series – PMC – PubMed Central,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7616029/
- “Overlooked Social Issues in India_ Gaps in Social Work Practice.docx”
- “Patriarchy, Inequality, and the Political Lives of Rural Indian Women (Chapter 2),” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/patriarchal-political-order/patriarchy-inequality-and-the-political-lives-of-rural-indian-women/A078F6ABD3B732AA7818AF37A20C42FA
- “Prevalence patterns and associated factors of elder abuse in an urban slum of eastern India,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8996550/
- “Promoting Environmental Justice and Sustainability in Social Work: A Call for Curriculum Integration – International Science Community Association,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.isca.in/IJSS/Archive/v13/i4/2.ISCA-IRJSS-2024-007.pdf
- “(PDF) Reflections on social work in practice: Perceptions of how being from a higher caste affects social work among the lower (Dalit) caste people of Nepal – my experience and lessons learned – ResearchGate,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259339182_Reflections_on_social_work_in_practice_Perceptions_of_how_being_from_a_higher_caste_affects_social_work_among_the_lower_Dalit_caste_people_of_Nepal_-_my_experience_and_lessons_learned
- “Save Indian Family Foundation – Wikipedia,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_Indian_Family_Foundation
- “Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 – Wikipedia,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduled_Caste_and_Scheduled_Tribe_(Prevention_of_Atrocities)_Act,_1989
- “Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 – PMF IAS,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.pmfias.com/sc-st-prevention-of-atrocities-act-1989/
- “Senior Care Reforms in India – NITI Aayog,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-02/Senior%20Care%20Reforms%20in%20India%20FINAL%20FOR%20WEBSITE_compressed.pdf
- “Shaping the Future of Legal Equality for LGBTQ+ in India – United Nations Development Programme,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-11/uniting_diversity-policy_brief-final_version.pdf
- “SOCIAL AND WORKPLACE ISSUES OF LGBT COMMUNITY IN INDIA – Haryana Police,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://haryanapolice.gov.in/policejournal/pdf/SOCIAL_WORKPLACE.pdf
- “Syllabus M.A. in Social Work – Himachal Pradesh University,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.hpuniv.ac.in/upload/syllabus/6475d856b7ed7so.pdf
- “the role of social workers in addressing mental health challenges in rural areas of india – IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.ijfans.org/uploads/paper/b79d4eb2dbe7efbd88e93d9966561ea1.pdf
- “Understanding Elder Abuse in India: Contributing Factors and Policy Suggestions,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.iipsindia.ac.in/sites/default/files/other_files/57_Understanding_Elder_Abusein_India_Contributing_Factors_JOPA.pdf
- “Unveiling the Many: Patriarchy’s Toll on Indian Society: | by Aditi Maheshwari | Medium,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://medium.com/@maheshwariaditi1996/unveiling-the-many-patriarchys-toll-on-indian-society-5ea7466d015d
- “With rise in India’s elderly population, experts suggest a review of financial policies,” accessed September 19, 2025, https://www.deccanherald.com/india/with-rise-in-indias-elderly-population-experts-suggest-a-review-of-financial-policies-3662773
Get Involved!
Leave a Comment