The two-day National Level Training Programme and Workshop on Social Empowerment and Beggary Prevention concluded on March 26, at the Department of English, Nagaland University, Kohima Campus.
Conducted in a hybrid mode, the proceedings commenced with a session by Dr. Imlisongla Longkumer, Associate Professor and HoD of the Department of Psychology, who explored the psychological dimensions of the issue in her talk, “Counselling and Beggary.” She characterized counseling as the vital practice of “working with individuals” and noted that those trapped in beggary often suffer from low self-efficacy and self-esteem, necessitating structured rehabilitation and supportive approaches. This was followed by Dr. Gyanendra Nath Tiwari, Professor and HoD of the Department of Teacher Education, who presented on the interlinkages between educational access and beggary prevention, focusing on how to map a transition from systemic poverty to sustained empowerment.
The mid-day segment featured a screening of the documentary Children for Sale: The Fight Against Child Trafficking in India, which provided a sobering look at the exploitation of children in labor and begging. This was followed by a discussion led by Dr. Prasenjit Pal, who urged the audience to extend a hand of compassion toward these vulnerable populations. Transitioning into the economic sphere, Prof. Joy Das, Head of the Department of Commerce, delivered a lecture on how financial inclusion acts as a pathway to reduce beggary by empowering marginalized individuals through specific structural pillars.
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The afternoon sessions brought diverse perspectives to the forefront, starting with a virtual presentation by Dr. Tanmoy Bhattacharjee from Women’s Christian College, Kolkata. He examined the economic aspects of beggary within the transgender community, using the artwork of K.G. Subramanyan to illustrate their lived experiences and societal struggles. Subsequently, Prof. Suresh Kurapati from Nagaland University’s Department of English discussed whether beggary in India is a societal menace or a structural failure, drawing on the historical contexts of nomadic communities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, such as the Budubudakkala and Beda Jangam.
Following a joint photo session, the event moved into its valedictory phase where Dr. Prasenjit Pal delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of the resource persons, volunteers, and participants. The workshop closed in the presence of distinguished faculty, including Prof. Nigamananda Das, Dr. Pradipta Pattnaik, and Dr. Subhashis Banerjee, marking a successful end to the national-level discourse.
