Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Dr. Joseph Riamei

Assistant Professor
Guwahati Campus
Chairperson, Centre for Community Organisation and Development Practice-Guwahati , School of Social Work - Guwahati Campus
Convenor, SC/ST and EO Cell

Qualification

M.A. Social Work (TISS)
Ph.D. Social Work (TISS)

Contact

joseph.riamei[at]tiss[dot]ac[dot]in

joseph.riamei@tiss.ac.in / josephtiss@gmail.com

Joseph Riamei is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati Campus. He has served two terms as the Chairperson of the Center for Community Organization & Development Practice, from 2017 to 2020, and again from 2023 to 2026. With over a decade of academic experience, Dr. Riamei specializes in teaching and research on topics such as Conflict and Peace, Social Action, Advocacy and Movement, Tribes and Governance, Community Organization and Development Practice, Identity and Livelihood Issues, Environmental Movements, and Project Management. He has collaborated with students, academics, development professionals, and non-profit organizations in various regions of India and internationally, focusing on Tribes, Governance, Conflict, and Social Work Education and Practice.

Dr. Riamei is the author of a book on Asymmetrical Federalism in Northeast India and has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes on subjects such as Tribes and Governance, District Councils, Conflicts, Diversity and Inclusive Policies, Politics and Tribe, Federalism, and Social Work Education. He has also contributed to multiple reports and research projects for government agencies and non-profit organizations. Dr. Riamei serves on the boards of several universities, research organizations, and NGOs. His research interests encompass Social Work Education and Practice, Indigenous Studies, Decoloniality and Decolonial Social Work, Governance and Tribes, Indigenous Tribal Peoples' Knowledge Systems, Ethnicity and Conflict Studies, Land Systems and the Politics of Land in Tribal Areas, and Human Rights and Social Justice.

Social Work Education and Practice
Indigenous Studies, Decoloniality and Decolonial Social Work
Governance and Tribes
Indigenous Tribal Peoples' Knowledge System
Ethnicity and Conflict Studies
Land Systems and the Politics of Land in Tribal Areas
Human Rights and Social Justice

Published Book(s):

‘Asymmetrical Federalism in North-East India: Politics and Process’, 2019, Heritage Publishers, ISBN 817026417-0, New Delhi

Published Articles:.

'The Quest for Self-governance and Autonomy: Tribes in Northeast India.' The International Journal of Community and Social Development, 8(3), 230-245, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1177/25166026261470524

'Sustainable Development Goals and Tribes in Northeast India,' Indian Journal of Social Work, Volume 86, Issue 1, January 2025. DOI: 10.32444/IJSW.2025.86.1.37-50 (Co-authored with Ziipao) (Published in July 2026)

‘Pei governance of the Rongmei indigenous tribe of Northeast India: traditional practices and emerging challenges’ Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer Nature, 28 February 2026, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-026-01104-0

‘The Methodological Intricacies in Researching Tribal Governance and State Policy: From the Location and Lens of a Tribe’, Jouranl of Tribal Intellectual Collective India, Volume:7, No. 9, pp. 75-80, February: 2024. http://www.ticijournals.org/the-methodological-intricacies-in-researching-tribal-governance-and-state-policy-from-the-location-and-lens-of-a-tribe/

‘Tribes and Voluntarism: A Case of the Rongmei Tribe in Northeast India’, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research, Sucharitha Publication, Volume:12, Issue:3(3), pp. 56-66, March: 2023. DOI: http://ijmer.in.doi./2023/12.03.49

‘Ethnic Diversity and Politics of Inclusion: Tribes in North East India’, Journal of Development Policy and Practice, SAGE Publishing, August 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/24551333221110737

‘Researching District Councils of Manipur From an Asymmetrical Federalism: Unraveling Complexities of Research Processes’, Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management Studies (ISSN 0973-8444), XISS, Ranchi, Vol. 19, No. 3, July-September 2021, pp. 8923-8935

‘Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council and Peoples’ Responses’, Journal of Tribal Intellectual Collective India (ISSN 2321 5437), Vol.3, Issue 3, No.3 pp.21 to 30, June 2016 https://www.ticijournals.org/manipur-hill-areas-district-council-and-peoples-responses/

‘Social Work Education in Northeast India: Status and Challenges' International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice, Horizon Research Publishing Vol.2. No.5 Oct, 2014, pp. 201-206 ISSN 2332-6840 https://www.hrpub.org/download/20141101/IJRH5-19202988.pdf

'Marginalisation, Politics and Discourse: Theorising Tribal Resistance in Manipur', International Journal of Multidisciplinary Educational Research (ISSN: 2277-7881), pp. 130-148, Volume 2, Issue 13(2), December 2013, https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/ijmer/pdf/volume2-issue13(2)-2013/volume2-issue13(2)-2013.pdf

'Contestation against forces of Marginalisation: District Council and Tribal Resistance in Manipur’, Journal of Tribal Intellectual Collective India (ISSN 2321 5437), pp 55-69, Vol.1, No.5, June 2013 www.ticijournals.org

Chapters in Books:

'The politics of Autonomy and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Northeast India', in Dhanaraju V, Teron D & Teron E (eds): Northeast India, Sixth Schedule and Tribes Autonomy in Northeast India, Manohar, New Delhi, April 2026, page 295-306, ISBN 978-93-7451-427-6

'The Paradox of Article 371-C', in Dhanaraju, Vulli (ed) (2022): Problems and Prospects of Sixth Schedule: Towards Tribes Autonomy and Self Governance, The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, March, 2022, page 161-172, ISBN 978-81-953428-4-6

‘The Politics of Tribal Representation in Manipur’, in Ambagudia Jagannath and Xaxa Viginius (ed) (2021): Tribal Politics in India, Sage Publishing, HB: 978-93-5388-458-1

‘Social Work Education: Challenges and Concerns in North East India’, in Das Bijoy, Das Amit and Devi M (eds) (2020):Contemporary Issues of NorthEast and Social Work Interventions, Akansha Publishing, New Delhi, ISBN 978-81-8370-579-0

‘The Question of Political Autonomy: State and Tribes in North-East India’, in Rao V Srinivasa (ed) (2020): Tribal Livelihood and Governance: Regional Concerns, Rawat Publication, Delhi, ISBN 978-81-316-1164-4

‘Accommodating Diversity: Quest for inclusive policies for tribal in North East India’, in Gogoi N., Saikia J., Deka H, Gogoi R and Kour S (eds) (2019): Symphony, Purbayon Publication, Assam, ISBN 978-93-88593-94-6

‘Tribes, Governance and Political Institution in Northeast India: Issues and Challenges', in bodhi SR and Jojo Bipin (ed) (2018): The Problematics of Tribal Integration: Voices from India’s Alternative Centers, Page no. 181-196, The Shared Mirror, Mumbai, ISBN 978-81-929930-3-4

‘Contestation against forces of Marginalisation: District Council and Tribal Resistance in Manipur’, in Dhanaraju V (ed) (2015): Debating in Tribal Identity: Past and Present, Page no. 181-196, Dominant Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, ISBN 978-93-84161-35-4

Articles/Interviews in Newspapers/Magazines:

“Exploring the Pathways of Social Work”, Eastern Mirror, June 12, 2024, https://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/exploring-the-pathways-of-social-work-with-dr-joseph-riamei

“Social Work Education in Northeast India: Some reflections”, The Sangai Express, July 27, 2015, https://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Social_Work_Education_in_Northeast_India_Some_reflections_By_Joseph_Riamei.html..

Ongoing Project

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, Study on 'Historical Perspectives of the Land Governance and Administration System in ADC Areas of the North-Eastern States.'
Completed Project
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Study on 'Evaluation of Grant-in-Aid Scheme to Voluntary Organisations Working for the Upliftment of Tribal Communities.'

Governance, Development and Conflict in North East India (PhD)
Rural Development and Governance (MA-Social Work-CODP)
Development Communication (MA-Social Work-CODP)
Social Work Practice (MA-Social Work)
Project Planning and Assessment (MA-Social Work)
Theoretical Perspective for Community Practice (MA-Social Work-CODP)
Conflict and Peace Processes (MA-Social Work-CODP)
Social Action, Advocacy and Movements (MA-Social Work-CODP)
State, Social Protection and Development Programmes (MA-Social Work-CODP)
Environmental Movement and Conflict (MAEESD)
Practicing Reconciliation (MA-PaCS)
Introduction to Social Work (BASS)
Societies in India (BASS)
Organisation Development (BASS)