Former director of the Madras School of Social Work, Karachepone Ninan George, passed away on Friday. He was 95.
Dr. George was an internationally acclaimed professor of social work.
His body will be kept for public homage at the MSSW campus on 32, Casa Major Road, Egmore, from 12.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. on April 14.
A prayer service will be held from 3 to 4 p.m at the Marthoma Church on Harrington Road, Chetpet. The burial will be held at 4.30 p.m. at Kilpauk cemetery.
Dr. George, who graduated with a Master’s in social work from MS University, Baroda in 1952, began his career as a lecturer in 1953 in the then newly established Madras School of Social Work.
In 1957, he took over as director and held the position for nearly five decades, earning the school a reputation as a premier educational institution in social work.
The MSSW was recognised as training centre for various cadres of government officials, including district and sessions judges, first-class judicial magistrates and jail officers and national service scheme programme officers.
Dr. George had served on the boards of several State, national and international advisory committees.
He has been decorated with various awards both by the State government, his alma mater - Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, the National Unity Council and won appreciation for inspired and dedicated leadership in the area of social development in India.
Dr. George was instrumental in establishing the Indian Council of Social Welfare, SWISS India Trust that funds many national level non-profit organisations in India, the Christian Children’s Fund and Child Fund India, which took over the Christian Children’s Fund later, TICINO Rural Development Society that works for rural development, Phil and Mary Clubwala Jadhav Trust that gives aids to 20 other non-governmental organisations, Robert Jones Trust that provides support in the field of education, and Institute of Sustainable Development a training and research organisation.
He helped develop a village in Karalapakkam, which now boasts a mini-health centre and vocational training centre. He also obtained grant from a Switzerland-based organisation for the development of Irulars. Till his death, he was also the chairman of the Institute of Sustainable Development.