KATHMANDU: The 12th World Social Work Day programme was celebrated at Smriti Bhawan in the Tribhuvan University (TU) premises in Kirtipur today.

"We are celebrating World Social Work Day to promote professional identity of social work," says Sudeep Lama Waiba, Spokesperson of the programme.

Waiba further added that around 65 colleges from all over the country participated in the programme.

Executive Vice President of National Youth Council and Chief Guest of the programme, Madhav Prasad Dhungel said, "To attain the professionalism in social work, youth spirit and social work should go parallely and NYC is always positive to cooperate with social workers and the whole team.”

Lecturer at the University Saroj Giree said,"Unity is vital in every profession and therefore in order to promote unity, we have been celebrating social work day for the past three years in Nepal. The participation of more than five thousand students in the programme has thereby proven our unity."

"Social work graduates have no job prospects in the government sector, and to aware government about the importance of the profession, the day is celebrated," further stated Giree.

Similarly, Ramesh Hamal, National Co-coordinator of World Social Work Day National Celebration Committee 2018 stated, “We do not have proper working sphere for social work graduates and this Day is observed to aware the government to recognise this profession in order to pave the way for our social work graduates. We work 364 days for others and we commemorate one day for ourselves.”

Likewise, a student of social work from Balkumari-based Kathmandu Model College, Kaushal Bhandaree shared, "To mark the importance of social work profession, we have ensured our participation."

Social work day is observed with the motive to bring all social workers together on the same ground.

Likewise, Ashma Acharya and Aishworya Shrestha, students pursuing Masters degree in Social Work complained, “No fixed job is allotted for this profession."

On the basis of connection and affiliation, only few get job placements in NGOs and International NGOs. This creates problem for all social work students for which national recognition and proper job prospects are indispensable.