On 23rd of February, 2024, our school had the incredible opportunity to host a distinguished clinical psychologist and professor Dr. S. P. K. Jena. He is Professor, Department of Applied Psychology, University of Delhi, and former Director, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (now National Forensic Sciences University). He has published several articles in national and international journals and has authored books followed by the mental health community as a part of core text. He is the former editor of Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology. Our school had an engaging session on “Poverty Alleviation: A Behavioral Perspective” with him. It was an interactive and enlightening discussion shedding light on the nuanced aspects of poverty and how behavioral insights can play a pivotal role in addressing this global issue.
From understanding the psychological barriers that hinder economic progress to exploring innovative solutions grounded in behavioral science, the session provided valuable insights into the complexities of poverty and ways to empower individuals and communities for sustainable change. Shedding light on absolute and relative poverty, he shared many experiences of ground-level interventions with destitute people of the nation that inspired the faculty and student audiences. He was felicitated by the Dean of the school Professor Keshab Das. Senior Professor, Dr. P. T Choudhary delivered the vote of thanks and shared a light moment on their physical similarities. We thank Dr. Girija Shankar Panigrahi, Assistant professor, Psychology, who was the convener for the event.
