Petition : Urgent Need for the Kerala State Social Work Act 2026
A Policy Rationale for Professional Regulation of Social Work in Kerala

Kerala is internationally recognised for its progressive social development model, often referred to as the “Kerala Model”, which emphasizes strong public health systems, social justice, and community welfare. This model relies significantly on professionals who work closely with communities to implement welfare policies and support vulnerable populations.

Among these professionals, social workers play a vital role in promoting social justice, supporting families and communities, addressing social problems, and strengthening welfare systems. Social workers are engaged in areas such as child protection, healthcare, mental health services, disability rehabilitation, gender justice, community development, disaster response, and social policy implementation.

Despite the crucial nature of these responsibilities, the profession of social work in Kerala currently lacks statutory regulation. This absence of a legal framework has created several structural challenges affecting both the profession and the communities it serves.

1. Absence of Professional Regulation

Unlike professions such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health sciences, social work in Kerala has no statutory regulatory council or licensing system. Consequently:

Any individual, regardless of educational qualification or professional training, can claim to be a “social worker.”

There is no mechanism to verify competence or professional qualifications.

Sensitive social cases may be handled by individuals without adequate training.

This lack of regulation undermines the professional credibility of trained social workers and can compromise the quality and effectiveness of social services.

2. Misuse of the Title “Social Worker”

In many contexts, the title “social worker” is used loosely by individuals involved in charity activities, political work, or informal voluntary service. While voluntary service and community engagement are valuable contributions, they are not equivalent to professional social work practice.

Professional social work requires:

1. Formal academic training (BSW / MSW / Mphil)
2. Supervised fieldwork experience
3. Knowledge of counselling techniques and social policy
4. Ethical and professional accountability

Without legal protection of the title, the term “social worker” is often misused, which creates confusion among the public and dilutes the professional identity of qualified social workers.

The proposed Act will protect the title “Registered Social Worker”, ensuring that only trained professionals can use this designation.

3. Safeguarding Vulnerable and Marginalised Populations

Social workers frequently engage with individuals and communities facing difficult life situations, including:

1. Children in need of care and protection
2. Survivors of domestic and gender-based violence
3. Persons with disabilities
4. Individuals with mental health challenges
5. Elderly persons requiring care and protection
6. Families living in poverty and social exclusion
7. Communities affected by disasters and displacement

These groups require skilled, ethical, and accountable professional support.

In the absence of professional regulation, there is a risk that untrained or unqualified individuals may intervene in complex social situations without adequate knowledge or ethical safeguards. This can lead to:

1. Improper counselling or guidance
2. Breach of confidentiality
3. Mismanagement of sensitive cases
4. Exploitation of vulnerable individuals
5. Misinformation and harmful interventions

A statutory regulatory system will ensure that only trained and registered professionals handle such cases, thereby strengthening the safety and protection of vulnerable populations.

4. Ensuring Professional Ethics and Accountability

Professional social work practice is guided by internationally recognised principles such as:

1. Respect for the dignity and worth of every individual
2. Promotion of human rights and social justice
3. Confidentiality and informed consent
4. Professional integrity and accountability
5. Non-discrimination and inclusion

The proposed Kerala Social Workers Act provides for the establishment of a Code of Professional Ethics and mechanisms to address complaints and professional misconduct. This will ensure accountability and ethical conduct among practitioners.

5. Establishment of a Kerala State Social Work Council

The proposed legislation provides for the creation of a Kerala State Social Work Council, a statutory body responsible for regulating the profession.

The Council will:

1. Register qualified social workers
2. Maintain the official Register of Social Workers
3. Accredit social work education programmes
4. Monitor professional standards and ethics
5. Investigate complaints and take disciplinary action
6. Promote continuing professional development

Such regulatory systems already exist for other professions in Kerala and are essential for maintaining professional standards.

6. Professional Recognition and Employment Opportunities

Kerala produces a large number of professionally trained social workers every year, with graduates from universities offering BSW and MSW programmes.

However, in the absence of professional regulation:

1. Many positions that require social work expertise are filled by individuals without social work qualifications.
2. There is no legally recognised professional identity for social workers.
3. Career pathways and professional advancement remain unclear.

The proposed Act will help create standardised roles for social work professionals across government departments, healthcare institutions, schools, welfare agencies, and development organisations.

7. Migration of Skilled Social Workers

Due to the lack of statutory professional recognition and career opportunities in India, thousands of trained social workers migrate abroad every year to countries where the profession is formally regulated and respected.

Countries such as:

1. United Kingdom
2. Canada
3. Australia
4. New Zealand
5. Ireland
6. United States

have well-established regulatory bodies and licensing systems for social workers.

While this demonstrates the global demand and competence of Indian social workers, it also results in a significant loss of skilled professionals from India’s social development sector.

Establishing a regulatory framework in Kerala will help:

1. Strengthen professional recognition within the state
2. Create better employment opportunities
3. Encourage skilled professionals to continue contributing to Kerala’s social welfare system.

8. Alignment with Global Best Practices

In most developed countries, social work is recognised as a regulated profession, similar to healthcare and legal professions.

These countries maintain professional councils or regulatory boards that ensure:

1. Registration and licensing of practitioners
2. Ethical standards and professional accountability
3. Continuous professional development
4. Public protection

The Kerala Social Workers Act will align the state with these global standards and enhance the credibility of the profession.

9. Strengthening the Social Welfare System

Social workers contribute to multiple sectors including:

1. Public health
2. Mental health services
3. Child protection systems
4. Disaster response and rehabilitation
5. Gender justice programmes
6. Community development initiatives
7. Corporate social responsibility programmes

By ensuring professional standards, the Act will strengthen coordination, efficiency, and accountability within the social welfare system.

Conclusion

The enactment of the Kerala State Social Work Act is an important step toward strengthening Kerala’s social development framework.

This legislation will:

1. Protect vulnerable and marginalised populations
2. Prevent misuse of the professional title “social worker”
3. Ensure ethical and professional service delivery
4. Provide professional recognition to trained social workers
5. Strengthen welfare programmes and institutions
6. Align Kerala with global professional standards

The Kerala Association of Professional Social Workers (KAPS) therefore calls upon policymakers,  Members of Legislative Assembly , Political Parties , Civil Society Organisations, academic institutions, and the public to support the enactment of the Kerala Social Workers Act, ensuring that the welfare of the people of Kerala is entrusted to qualified, ethical, and accountable professionals.

- KAPS Advocacy Wing