JOIN USInternational Social Services Organisation (New Delhi) Founder Dr Bindeshwar Pathak said social acceptance is required for the deprived classes of the society.
He was speaking after inaugurating a UGC-sponsored two-day national conference on Social Sciences and social development organised by the Department of Sociology and Association of Humanities of St Aloysius College and Mangalore Sociology Association at St Aloysius College in Mangaluru on Friday.
Pathak said views from all parts of the society are vital in building a healthy society. There must be sufficient tolerance to accept all views, he added.
He said, “There cannot be a complete and real social development unless the last person of the society is brought to the mainstream of development. Tolerance is the key for a positive development. One must make sure that all sections of the society are in the race of development and no section should lag behind in this respect.”
Stating that untouchability and lack of hygiene are the dark spots in the society, Pathak called upon social scientists to intervene and come up with a permanent solution for the problems.
“In many villages in states like Bihar, people are deprived of basic amenities like toilets. People, especially women, are compelled to go for open defecation. Due to lack of toilets in schools and colleges, girls refuse to go to schools. This made the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation to build Sulabh toilets. As a result, the strength of girl students has increased in schools,” he said.
St Aloysius Institutions Rector Rev Fr Denzil Lobo presided over the programme. St Aloysius College Principal Rev Fr Swebert D’Silva, Prof Nil Ratan of A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, ISEC, Bengaluru, former faculty Prof G K Karanth, Mangalore Sociology Association President Dr Vinay Rajath, Secretary Vijay Alva, Organiseing Secretary Rev Fr Alpohonse Fernandes and St Aloysius College Social Sciences Dean Fr Alwyn D’Sa were present.