REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND PUBLIC EDN. COMM. OF THE CABE 1940

 REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND
 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
 OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF
 EDUCATION, 1940.

At the fifth annual meeting held in May 1940, the Central Advisory Board of Education considered a communication from Sir Francis Younghusband, Secretary of the Indian Village Welfare Association, Westminster London, regarding the establishment of a centre or centres in India for study in social service and public administration. As the Board felt that this important problem required thorough investigation, they appointed a Committee to examine the various issues arising in connection with it and to submit a report. The following were appointed members of the Committee which was given power to co-opt:-

1. The Hon'ble Sir Maurice Gwyer, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., Chief Justice of India, Chairman.

2. Sir V. T. Krishnamachari, K.C.I.E., Dewan of Baroda.

3. The Right Rev. G. D. Barne, C.I.E., O.B.E., V.D., Bishop of Lahore

4. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.

5. Dr. R. C. Mazumdar, Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor, Dacca University.

6. Dr. A F. Rahman, LL.D., B.A. (Oxon.), Member, Federal Public Service Commission.

7. Lala Shri Ram.

8. The Educational Commissioner with the Government of India.

2. In accordance with the powers conferred on the Committee, the following were co-opted as additional members:-

1. Dr.T. E. Gregory, D.Sc., Economic Adviser to the Government of India.

2. Dr. Clifford Manshardt, A.M., D.B., Ph.D., D.D., Director. The Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, Byculla, Bombay.

3. Mr. R. P. Masani, M.A., J.P., Vice-Chancellor, Bombay University.

3. The Committee, as finally constituted, met in New Delhi on the 15th and 16th November 1940. Sir V. T. Krishnamachari, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Dr. Gregory were unable to attend the meeting. Dr. D. M. Sen, M.A., Ph.D., Secretary, Central Advisory Board of Education, was Secretary of the Committee.

4. The agenda and the connected papers circulated to the members are set out in the Annexure

5. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman observed that the memorandum circulated with the agenda indicated most of the points which the Committee were called upon to consider. The first question they had to decide was whether the establishment of a centre or centres was desirable and if so whether it could be regarded as practicable within a reasonable period. After that general point had been settled the Committee would

proceed to define the functions of such a centre or centres, the Scope of the subjects to be studied or investigations conducted and the necessary organisation which would be involved.

As a preliminary to their discussion, the Commitee asked Dr. Manshardt as Director of The Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, which is a pioneer institution in this sphere so far as India is concerned, to describe the work which was being done under his guidance. Dr. Manshardt explained in detail the Organisation and activities of the Tata School.

6. The Committee felt that as they were required to consider the social services in their relation to public administration rather than public administration so far as it was concerned with social service, their investigation must embrace the activities of voluntary agencies as well as the work of public bodies and government departments. The means of correlation between these two might indeed form the primary subject for exploration and in this connection the experience of European countries and of America might be usefully studied. On the other hand a country so vast in extent its India, with such varying climatic and economic conditions and with so complicated a social, structure must present problems which can only be tackled in the light of original research. The Committee, therefore, envisaged the need for a central institution at which the main issues arising in connection with social welfare in the widest sense might receive impartial and scientific, examination. The principal function of such an institution would be to study social problems rather than to train social workers but emphasis was laid on the fact that if its researches were to be practical and its influence far-reaching it must be staffed by people with as wide an experience as possible of social service in a concrete form. It was to be expected that the staff and student of such a central institution would be drawn from workers in provincial centres, whether voluntary or professional, and would in due course return to practical work. It would thus be at one and the same time a clearing house of information anti ideas, a research bureau, and a kind of staff college for senior social welfare officers. The Committee bad before them the constitution and programme of the American Public Welfare Association and felt that these with such modifications as might be needed to meet Indian conditions might be a useful guide in determining the more detailed functions of the institution they have in mind. In order, however, that the institution might be at all times in close touch with practical problems and have some place where actual experiment, could be carried out it would be extremely desirable that there should be closely associated with it, if not under the same direction, a training school for social worker. Possibly the social welfare centre which a place of the size and importance of Delhi might he expected to support would serve this object.

7. The Committee recognised that a central institution of the kind outlined above could only be justified if its work were supplemented by and closely linked with that of provincial social service centres directly in contact with local problems. The Committee were glad to note that in addition to the Tata School there are a number of voluntary agencies already engaged in this field, such as the Institute of Rural Reconstruction at Santiniketan, the Co- operative Institute at Gosaba, as well as the social service centres run by the Ramkrishna Mission and numerous other missionary agencies. In addition to voluntary effort, Governments, whether Central, Provincial or State, are devoting increasing attention to the

social services and this tendency may be expected to develop rapidly in the near future. There is therefore a promising nucleus of varied activities, the main need of which is consistent stimulus and effective organisation. To provide this a number of provincial centres are required, whose principal object would be to correlate the activities of all social service agencies in their areas. The proposed central institution in its turn would act as a focus for the provincial centres.

8. The Committee do not wish to do more than indicate in the broadest outline the function which in their opinion these provincial centres should fulfil. In order to ensure effective correlation it is important that their management should represent as fully as possible the various organisations at work in the area. In addition to this it will be their business to conduct propaganda and to train or arrange for the training of social service workers. The field to be covered is so large that it is unlikely that any one provincial centre will possess the necessary facilities for training workers in all branches of social welfare. Full use must therefore be made for training purposes of other suitable centres in the area. Similarly in the cam of the workers themselves the call for service is so great that there is no possibility of satisfying it solely by means of full-time professionals. A nucleus of these will be essential in every area and their selection and training will be matters of the first importance but they will have to be reinforced by a much larger army of part-time and voluntary workers. The Provision of courses for them will be an essential feature of any successful provincial Organisation. In particular the Committee felt that it would be extremely desirable that departments of Government which deal with the social services should take step to see that their officers receive similar training either during their period of probation or subsequently. Teachers and Health officers in particular should be made aware of the Wider aspects of a movement with which their own activities are intimately connected. It is an obvious truism that progress in social welfare must very largely depend on a sympathetic attitude on the part of those occupying Positions of administrative responsibility.

9. The Committee also considered what direct contribution Universities might be expected to make in this sphere. While they did not regard as practicable the suggestion recently put forward that some personal participation in social service should be made a condition of the award of a degree, they felt that Universities might render help of considerable value both by enlarging the scope of their extra-mural departments and by encouraging students to regard social service as the discharge of an obligation towards the less fortunate sections of the community. The Committee recognised the part played by Universities in the Literacy Movement and were glad to learn that some, Universities were already actively interesting themselves in the establishment of University settlements and other forms of social work.

10. In considering the general lines which training for social service should follow the Committee had in mind the fact that the problems of Metal work in rural areas are distinct from those in cities and that in planning courses a different method of approach would be required in each case. Apart from the need to establish training centres in rural areas as Well as towns it is not less essential to ensure that the students in the former are people with a real knowledge of and interest in rural

11. The Committee next considered the nature of the machinery which, would be required to give affect to the ideas set out in the foregoing paragraphs.

As has already been indicated, they envisaged the need of an All- India body with a central institution under its control at which the main problems could be studied. In addition, to research it would be the business of the Central body and the Central institution to establish and maintain contact with provincial centres which would in sum stimulate and coordinate social service activities in their own areas. The Committee felt it was outside their terms of reference to consider in any detail what form or form of organisation should be adopted so far as provincial or other load areas an concerned. No useful purpose would in any can be served by attempting to prescribe a uniform system Provided that overlapping and waste of affect are avoided, this is a subject above all others where local conditions must be taken into account and freedom to experiment encouraged.

12. The central body, which might be called the All-India Council of Social Service, and would, as its name indicates, be representative of the whole country, should not in the Committee's opinion be under the direct control of Government. Since, however, it is not reasonable to anticipate Abet funds sufficient to make it self- supporting will be forthcoming from private benefactions, as in the ease of the Association of Public Welfare Administration endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation, and that consequently it will have to depend at any rate in its early stages largely an assistance from Government funds, some public representation will be necessary.

Without wishing to define too rigidly the composition of the Central Council the Committee felt that it should Contain a Chairman and 6 members (of whom at least 2 should be women) nominated by Government, one representative of each Province and 2 representatives of Universities nominated by the Inter-University Board. Provision might be made for the representation of those Indian -States which we actively interested in this subject through the Government nominees. This would mean a council of about 20 and it was thought that provided the members were persons of influence, carefully selected for their interest in and practical experience of social problems, it should be large enough for its purpose.

13. The Central Research Institute, which would be managed by the Central Council and should be located in Delhi should have three main departments devoted to the study of Economic, Public Health and Education problems respectively.

In view of the character of the work which it will undertake and in the interests of economy the staff of the Institute need not be a large one. Quality rather than quantity should be the determining factor. The committee were in agreement that in order to preserve the vitality of the Institute, the Director and Heads of Departments should not be encouraged to remain them indefinitely. Their appointments should be on contract for such a period, e.g., five or seven years, as would enable them to Make their influence felt throughout the country as well as to complete any important piece of research which they might be required to undertake. The Institute would also need a Registrar and a Statistician: then might be permanent appointments. The Registrar would act as Secretary to the Council.

14. in conclusion the committee have felt it desirable to put forward some estimate of the cost of their proposals together with suggestions as to the source or sources from which it might be met. As the success of the scheme will depend to a very great extent on the personality and ability of the Director of the proposed Central Research Institute the Committee consider it necessary to offer a salary that will attract the beat men available. As the appointment is to be for a period of 5-7 years and will not be pensionable, the Committee are of opinion that the salary should not be fees than Rs. 1,500 per mensem.

It should be possible to obtain men of the requisite calibre as Reads of the three proposed departments for Rs. 500-700 each per mensem and Rs. 750 per mensem should cover the combined salaries of the Registrar and Statistician. Generous allowance should also be made for stipends in the case of research workers of outstanding ability who would otherwise be able to support themselves at the Institute. The committee do not consider that in the beginning at any rate it would be necessary to incur any serious nonrecurring expenditure in connection with this scheme as it should be possible to hire accommodation in Delhi that would house adequately an Institution of the modest size contemplated. When the rent of premises and normal maintenance charges, including clerical Staff, are added to the salaries suggested above it, would appear that between Rs 75,000 and Rs. 1 lakh would be need to meet the annual recurring Cost.

The Committee hope that if the scheme succeeds and by its success attracts increased attention to the importance of social welfare work in the interest of the community at large, it will in due course receive a growing measure of financial support both from public bodies and from private benefactors. They also take it for granted that the proposed All-India council of Social Service and the staff of the institute will make every effort to build up an endowment fund which Will Ultimately place the Institute on a self-supporting basis. At the start however they realise that the bulk if not the whole of the expenditure involved will have to be met from public funds and they regard the contribution which this project might make to the general well-being of India as so great that they have no-hesitation in recommending the Central Government to accept the whole responsibility for an initial period of 5 years.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

I. (a) That there should be established in India, preferably at Delhi, a Centre M which an impartial and thorough Edition of the problem connected with the Social Services and Public Administration relation to the Social Services, could be carried out.

(b) That for this purpose a Central body to be called the All- India council of Social Service, should set up with an institute for research under its control.

(c) In order that the institution might be at all times in close touch with practical problems and have some place where actual experiments could be carried out it would be extremely desirable that there should be closely associated with it, if not under the same direction, a training schools for social workers.

II. That in each province and other large administrative am there should be at least one centre affiliated with the All-India Council the main object of which would be to stimulate and coordinate the work of social service agencies, voluntary and official, in the area and to arrange for the training of social workers of all grades.

III. That training in social work should be given to the officials of public departments concerned with the social services as well as to the workers of voluntary bodies.

IV. That every University in India should have a department for extramural work in charge of an officer who has had a thorough training in Social Service.

V. That as most of the India's population is in the rural areas, corresponding importance should be attached to training for service in rural areas persons with a real knowledge of and Interest in country life.

VI. That the composition of the proposed All-India Council of Social Service and the staff of the proposed Central Institute and their remuneration should he as set out in paragraphs 11-14 of the report.

VII. That the annual recurring cost of the Central Institute estimated at between Rs. 75,000 and, Rs. 1,00,000 should be borne by the Government of India for an initial period of 5 years.

VIII. That every effort should he made to build up an endowment fund which would make the Central Institute self-supporting within a reasonable period.

(SD)MAURICE GWYER (CHAIRMAN).

G. D. BARNE.

B. C. MAZUMDAR.

A. F. RAHMAN.

SHRI RAM

JOHN SARGENT.

CLIFFORD MANSHARDT,*

R. P. MASANI.

NOTE OF DISSENT BY DR. CLIFFORD MANSHARDT.

I approve of the report except for the first paragraph in section 13 on page 4. It is quite right that the Committee decided that the Research Institute should have three main departments devoted to the study of Economic, Public Health and Educational problems respectively. I personally, however do not feel that this division represent, in an adequate manner the functions of a Social Research Institute. I feel that the Institute could more profitably devote its attention to:-

(a) A study of the problems connected with Family and Child Welfare.

REPORT OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EDUCATION, 1940.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

NOTE OF DISSENT BY DR. CLIFFORD MANSHARDT.