...For me, as a practicing social worker, this reaffirmed the value of embracing the unknown. Authentic narratives arise not only from what research already tells us, but from the discoveries we make when we step outside familiar frameworks and genuinely listen to voices that challenge, surprise, or even amuse us. The recent accounts of women in Bihar illustrate this powerfully—their lived experiences cut through political and academic assumptions, shaping a truly authentic, people-led narrative for change ." The 13th Indian Social Work Conference offered many powerful insights, but the session that stayed with me the most was the plenary on “Reimagining Development through Gender-Sensitive Ecosocial Work Practice.” I want to begin by acknowledging Dr. R. Nalini, Professor of Social Work at Pondicherry University , whose paper “Gender Suffering and Structural Inequality: An Ecosocial Analysis of Women in Substance-Affected Families” brought depth, clarity, and compassion to the...
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