Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Social Sector: How Social Work is Driving Change in India?

The United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015. These 17 Sustainable Development Goals aim to end poverty, AIDs, hunger, gender discrimination, and more. The world leaders vowed to ensure clean water, renewable energy, sustainable communities, gender equality, well-being, and quality education by the end of this mutually agreed UN-led agenda.

Social workers and professionals with a Master’s of Social Work from top purpose-driven universities, such as Chanakya University, can help bring this change. They work at the grassroots level and trigger real changes where they matter most, helping to realise the Sustainable Development Goals envisioned by world leaders and the UN.

How do MSW Course Subjects at Chanakya University Prepare Students as Agents of Social Change?

Professionally trained social workers bring a multidisciplinary skill set that aligns closely with the SDGs. Social work education emphasises equity, advocacy, and sustainable development—preparing graduates to design and implement interventions across health, education, sanitation, gender, and environment.

A Master of Social Work (MSW) is a two‑year postgraduate programme where MSW course subjects typically include human rights, community development, psychiatric social work, counselling, social policy, and research methods. The master of social work syllabus is built around theory and extensive fieldwork, preparing students for real‑world impact.

Government Initiatives & Social Work Action

India’s progress across SDGs has been driven by flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, Swachh Bharat, and universal education—each reflecting SDG targets such as Good Health (SDG 3), Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG 6), and Quality Education (SDG 4). Social workers with a Master of Social Work contribute significantly to these through community mobilisation, policy implementation, and monitoring inclusive access.

Recent initiatives and programmes illustrate India’s steps towards realising the SDGs in recent years.

Project Jeevan Jyot

Project Jeevan Jyot in Punjab has rescued and rehabilitated hundreds of child beggars, combining social work intervention with state action, thereby promoting child rights and welfare (SDG 1, 10)

Mission Vatsalya in Maharashtra 

It uses Mobile Outreach Teams—including counsellors, educators, and caregivers—to rehabilitate vulnerable street children, enabling school enrolment, medical care, and protection (SDG 4, 16).

Food, Nutrition, Health, and Wash (FNHW)

Active in Jharkhand, this initiative mobilises over 3.2 million women’s self-help group (SHG) members to deliver peer counselling, nutrition gardens, sanitation, and doorstep services—linking SDG 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Project Parishram in Vadodara

It showcases decentralised waste management by women’s SHGs transforming kitchen waste into compost—supporting sustainable cities (SDG 11) and gender equality (SDG 5).

Chanakya University’s Master of Social Work Programme: Empowering Change‑Makers

Chanakya University, Bangalore, offers a compelling Master of Social Work (MSW) program that strongly aligns with SDG goals. The program is interdisciplinary, combining social work theory with real‑world practice, and includes specialisations such as:

  • Community Development
  • Medical & Psychiatric Social Work
  • Human Resource Management

The MSW course subjects cover areas such as ethical practice, advocacy, diversity, and research-based interventions. Students engage in internships and fieldwork projects that support sustainable development in communities—strengthening their capacity to respond to social challenges across SDGs.

Chanakya’s flexible learning environment allows students to tailor their path in line with their interests in health, gender justice, or environmental sustainability. While the MSW course fees are accessible, the university also offers financial assistance and scholarships to encourage inclusive participation—ensuring that financial barriers do not limit socially committed students.

How do Students with the Master of Social Work Programme drive SDGs?

MSW graduates often join NGOs, government agencies, or community organisations to work on empowerment, policy advocacy, healthcare access, child welfare, and environmental literacy. Their field training enables them to translate SDG ideals into actionable community programs—ranging from hygiene campaigns to livelihood training, mental health support, and disaster resilience.

Conclusion

The convergence of social work and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is both timely and transformational. Chanakya University fosters this synergy—shaping graduates who understand MSW course subjects, engage with communities, and embody the values of equity, justice, and sustainable social development. For those seeking to be agents of change, an MSW with a focus on SDGs can be a powerful path forward.

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