Self Employed Womens Association

Inception
In December 1971
Registered as Trade Union In April 1972
Formed due to low and erratic wages of head loaders
Had around 1.73 million member till 2012
Main Categories
Manual Laborers & Service Providers
Home Based Workers & Producers
Hawkers & Vendors

Mindset
Idealistic person following Gandhijis values
Introduced many successful campaigns
2011 saw 100 Mile Principle
Urges us to meet lifes basic need produced within
100 miles
Received lot of criticism for inhibition of progress
and irrelevant approaches
Expressed principle as a guide & philosophy
Behaviour
Ela Bhatt had a deep social mindset and helped uplift
social status of women.


She started various initiatives like Sewa Bank and
100 Mile Principle.




Turning Points
Textile labor association turned out to be a major
push.


Gandhis lead labor strike


Financial status of women in India.






Challenges
Illiterate workforce

Exploitation

Ignorance of women about their moral and economic
status

No access to banks or financial help

Lack of social security and healthcare
Services Provided
Rewards & Recognitions
Doctorate by Harvard university.
Padma Shree 1985
Padma Bhushan 1956
Ramon Magsaysay award 1977
Honored with Radcliffe medal. 2011
Members of THE ELDERS.
Works Cited From
http://www.sewa.org/pdf/SEWA-ANNUAL-REPORT-
2012.pdf
http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/an-
interview-with-ela-r-bhatt-founder-of-the-self-employed-
womens-association-in-india/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-
Employed_Women's_Association_of_India
www.sewa.org
www.google.co.in
http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-
discussion-with-ela-bhatt-founder-self-employed-women-
s-association-sewa