The Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment recently launched an online platform, TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services). This move appears to be a timely response to the pressing need for online resources due to the pandemic.
About TAPAS
TAPAS is designed as a tool for capacity building, offering various courses in the field of social defence. The concept was birthed by the National Institute of Social Defense (NISD). It aims to provide protection against crime through organized action from both the State and civil society.
It adopts the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) model — a free web-based distance learning program that caters to a large number of dispersed students. The platform carries filmed lectures and study materials with interactive forums to encourage engagements amongst participants.
Learning on TAPAS
Interested learners can enjoy access to expert lectures and study materials in a format that complements physical learning without any quality compromise. It suits anyone seeking to enhance their knowledge on the subjects provided, all at no cost. It utilises a quadrant approach incorporating Video, Text, Self-Assessment, and Discussions.
Offered Courses
Five basic courses are available on the platform: Drug (Substance) Abuse Prevention, Geriatric/Elderly Care, Care and Management of Dementia, Transgender Issues, and a comprehensive course on Social Defence Issues. The main objective is to enhance participant knowledge and skills for capacity building.
Significance of TAPAS
In the traditional education system where offline teaching prevails, TAPAS has the potential to be a game-changer by opening up new possibilities. It will aid the Ministry in reaching out to a larger group of people working in social defence.
Other Digital Learning Initiatives
Similar digital initiatives include SWAYAM, which was launched by the Ministry of Education to provide an integrated platform for online courses. SWAYAM Prabha offers 32 high-quality educational channels accessible countrywide, while NEAT uses Artificial Intelligence for tailored learning experiences. There’s also the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), a Ministry of Education project initiated by seven Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore.
About NISD
The National Institute of Social Defence is a registered autonomous entity with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi. It provides advice to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and serves as an excellence centre for research and training in the field of social defence. The institute also coordinates between government and non-government organizations at different levels.
It focuses on human resource development in areas like drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens, beggary prevention, transgender issues, and other social defence matters. Its mandate is to support the Government of India’s social defense programs through training, research, and documentation.