Seminar on social justice at MLCU

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 7: With the objective to not just begin dialogue on social justice but also to explore and discuss conceptual framework for a centre on social change and justice in Martin Luther Christian University and at the community level, the department of Social Work, MLCU today held a seminar titled, “Social Change and Justice: Implication and Significance on the Youth,” in the university which was attended by the Chancellor, GC Kharkongor, Vice Chancellor, VT Darlong, Patricia Mikhim, Editor The Shillong Times, Daniel Ingty, former Project Director MBDA, Meghalaya, faculty and students from the department of Social Work.

The resource persons for the seminar were Stan Thekaekara and Mari Thekaekara. Stan and Mari Thekaekara founded ACCORD in 1986 to work with the adivasi communities of the Nilgiri Hills with a mission to enable the adivasi community living in the Gudalur valley to regain their lost self-reliance and to participate in the mainstream society as equal partners with dignity.

The faculty from the department of Social Work gave brief presentations on the Relevance of Social Change and Justice in Public Health by Nandaris Marwein, Relevance of Social Change and Justice by Dr Ardonister Lyngdoh, Social Change Photography by Clinton Massar to mname just a few.

Speaking during the seminar, Stan Thekaekara, addressed the various issues of social injustice in our country and stressed on the fact that social justice and overall development should go hand in hand. He added even though the world might preach social justice, we always tend to forget that we live and function in a system that cause poverty which leads to many other social issues.