286 Social Work Intervention with Communities and ...

1 286 Social work Intervention with Communities and Institutions15 Social action as a Method ofSocial work * Beena Antony,Archana KaushikIntroductionSocial problems and conflicts have remained an integralpart of the society from the time immemorial. Forproviding relief and solution to these problems, socialwork and Social welfare have also remained a partof human society. Professional Social work utilizescertain methods of working with people, in view ofempowering the people to solve their problems. Amongthe methods of Social work , Social action is a newintroduction in the professional Social work its relevance is often felt in the field situations, Social workers do not practice this method quitefrequently.

2 The inherent theme behind Social actionis re-adjustment of the Social institutions andredistribution of power and resources for Social justiceand empowerment of the community. As a methodof Social work , Social action mobilizes the generalpopulation to bring about structural changes in thesocial the relation of Social action with other methodsof Social work is very important to understand. Socialaction process heavily rests on other Social workmethods like group work and community fact Social action comes into the picture whenpeople s needs and problems remain unmet andunsettled through other methods of Social action seems to be a step forward to communityorganisation.

3 Social work research helps in perceiving*Dr. Beena Antony and Dr. Archana Kaushik,University of Delhi, DelhiSocial action as a Method of Social Work287the Social problem objectively. Group work andcasework are the foundation to Social action wherepeople are mobilized to confront authorities. Socialwelfare administration gives the ground to socialworkers to prepare the community for Social workers make use of the skills and experiencesgained through other methods of Social work in theprocess of Social action : A Method of Social WorkEvery profession has a tested body of knowledge,which includes principles, techniques, methods,procedures, tools and terminology of its own.

4 Thesame is true with professional Social work . Socialwork has six methods of working with people (casework,group work , community organisation, Social action , Social welfare administration and Social workresearch). These methods are the techniques ofenabling the people for better Social action , as a method of professional socialwork practice, is an organised effort to change orimprove Social and economic institutions throughorganisation and mobilization of the community other Social work methods, Social actionemphasizes on long-term essential changes inestablished Social institutions. Social action coversmovements of Social , religious and political reform, Social legislation, racial and Social justice, humanrights, freedom and civic liberty.

5 Previously socialaction was considered as a tool within the field ofcommunity organisation, but now it has beenconsidered as a separate technique of Social workand as such a fourth process (see Siddiqui, 1984).Why Social action is considered a method ofprofessional Social work ? A method of professionalsocial work is a technique or approach havingcharacteristics like: an established process with easilyrecognizable stages, based on the philosophy of social288 Social work Intervention with Communities and Institutionswork, having principles or guidelines or theories,skills of working with people which are learned andrefined through professional guidance. Let us viewsocial action within these action process, more or less, passes throughthe recognizable and systematic stages.

6 First of all,a scientific analysis or research on the Social problemaffecting the community people is carried out. Then,awareness is generated regarding various aspectsof the problem and people are encouraged to takecollective and collaborative action to solve the stage is centred on organising people forcoordinated and directed Intervention whereas infurther stage suitable strategies are developed toachieve the goals and lastly, action is taken. Everysocial action process passes through these stagesand professional Social workers or actionists arewell-equipped with knowledge and skills requiredin different a method of Social work , Social action adheresto the philosophy of professional Social work .

7 It doesnot blame people for the deficiency or problem. Itstrongly believes in the worth and dignity of humanbeings. Social action rejects the doctrine of laissez-faire and survival of the fittest. The unfit personhas the same fundamental rights as do the morefit, and the rich or powerful is not necessarily fit,and nor a poor or weak is indeed unfit. It adoptsa commitment to the capacity of all the people totake action to improve their life circumstances. Itgrounds this action on a process of open participationin which people, preferably collectively, explore theunderlying Social issues of their life situations asthe foundation for action . Practitioners do not lead,but, through a non-elitist highly skilled process,they facilitate members in making choices and takingaction for action as a Method of Social Work289 Like any other method of professional Social work , Social action does have certain principles, detailsof which are given in the previous unit.

8 Very briefly,these principles are mentioned here. Firstly, thecommunity people must have the faith and confidencein the Social worker (principle of credibility building).The Social actionist or Social worker should makethe people believe that their actions to achieve theset goals are legitimate (principle of legitimization).Certain strategies adopted like dharna, morcha,slogans, emotional powerful speeches, rallies createdramatic effects in Social action (principle ofdramatization). Social action does not depend on asingle strategy, rather it adopts many different waysand means to achieve the goal (principle of multiplestrategies). Social action must not rest only onconflictual activities with authorities.

9 It should alsoconcentrate on constructive developmental activitiesalong with confrontation (principle of dual approach). Social action does not confine itself to a single aspectof the Social issue. Rather, it emphasizes onprogrammes having multi-prong aspects like Social ,economic, cultural, etc. (principle of manifoldprogrammes). Social workers or actionists, duringsocial action , make use of these principles for achievingthe overall goal of Social action has a definite set of goals and goal of Social action is redistribution with regardto resources and power to provide Social justice toall. Its objective is the proper shaping and developmentof socio-cultural environment in which a richer andfuller life may be possible for all the citizens.

10 Socialaction aims at prevention of needs, solution of massproblems, improvement in mass conditions, influencinginstitutions, policies and practices, introduction ofnew mechanisms or programmes, redistribution ofpower, resources (human, material and moral) andimprovement in health, education and work Intervention with Communities and InstitutionsSocial action employs certain strategies and tacticsas tools to attain its goals, which makes it differentfrom other Social work methods. They are negotiation,persuasion, competition, disruption, collaboration,bargain, strikes, boycotts, fasts, tax-refusal, sit-ins,picketing, marches, fraternization, haunting, leafleting,reversal strike, obstruction, renouncing honours, it may be stressed again that violence andblood-shedding are not at all included in strategiesused to confront the workers practicing Social action are well versedwith certain skills that are developed through teaching-learning and training.