Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Swedish students praise Tiruchi civic projects

Special Correspondent

They were taken on guided tour of development programmes

TIRUCHI : It was quite a learning experience for the 40-odd undergraduate social studies students of the Umea and Orebre universities of Sweden, who were currently on a field visit to the City.

Community development models and workings of the service organisations were of particular interest for the students as they were taken on a guided tour of some the development programmes of the Tiruchi Corporation here on Wednesday. The would-be social workers were quiet impressed by the involvement of the local communities, self-help groups and service organisations in development and civic projects.

"You have some well-developed models in community development. At the same time I wish some of our systems especially in health care and social security were replicated here," observed Mikael Kahari, a former computer science professional and guitarist who has now taken to social work.

The flexible Swedish education system makes such mid-career change-over possible. "I will be 49 by the time I am through with my research," he says. But he still plans to work in the field of socio-economic problems of an increasing ageing population. Sweden and several other European countries would not have adequate youth population to work over the next few decades, he says. It is in this context that community based development models assume significance for him.

The teams from the two universities, one on a five-week and the other on seven-week visit, have already visited old age homes, rehabilitation centres for blind and the mentally challenged, day care centres and other economic development projects.

The vast cultural divide between the two countries notwithstanding, the Swedish students how come to get a first hand experience of what it takes to be social worker, especially in the developing countries. Many say that the experience would stand them in good stead in their careers, especially in social and economic planning.

Overwhelmed by the Indian hospitality and family/community support, some of the students even plan a second visit to the country in future, says R.Santhanam, the local coordinator, who organises such students visits annually for the Swedish universities. A student exchange programme has also been organised between the Swedish universities and a local associate, Cauvery College for Women in the city, he adds.

Students of the Orebre University also plan to visit some of the tsunami-affected areas in the State to get a first-hand account of the rehabilitation programmes.

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