Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work
(Affiliated to Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur)
UGC-NAAC ACCREDITED 4th CYCLE ‘B++’ GRADE (CGPA-2.91)
The beginnings of the Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work can be traced back to the year 1921 when the Late Padmashree Kamalatai Hospet founded Matru Sewa Sangh (MSS) in the city of Nagpur.
Having witnessed the abysmal facilities for pregnant Indian women, Kamalatai, widowed at the age of 15, set up maternity homes in Central Provinces and Berar. Her work, and more so her nature, attracted some remarkable individuals who engaged their life expanding the domain of MSS.
One such person was Dr (Ms) Satyabala Tayal. A true Gandhian, Satyabala had walked miles in the scorching sun of Hissar (Haryana) as a Bhoodan worker – a contribution acknowledged in the form of a ‘Pranam Patra’ (1957) awarded by the Govt. of Punjab. Drawn to MSS by its unique ‘all- women run’ organizational structure; and on advice from Kamalatai, Satyabala, came to Nagpur in 1956.
Observing the growing activities of MSS and the ensuring shortage of trained human power she decided on a “School of social Work for Women”.
The “School of social Work for Women” founded by Dr Satyabala Tayal began with just seven students in a small room in the premises of MSS at Sitabuldi in Nagpur offering a Certificate Course in Social Work. It evolved with a coherent perspective; from a Certificate course in Social Work to a Bachelor’s course, and subsequently the Masters and M.Phil courses followed.
To strengthen the academic programmes the Institute pioneered field action projects in hospital and community settings for rural people, abandoned children, women in distress, low-income families in slum localities and drug addicts. In the last decade the Institute has been offering its expertise in the areas o evolution, monitoring and research to governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The Government of Maharashtra honoured Dr Satyabala Tayal with the Savitribai Phule Award in 1990.
Nourished by the liberal tradition and social reform orientation of the MSS, The Matru Sewa Sangh Institute of Social Work continues to grow contributing its efforts in the making of a modern India.