SEWA or Self Employed Women’s Association is an institution launched with the aim to empower women who are financially backward or self-employed. The Ahmedabad based trade union was found by civil rights activist and Gandhian, Ela Bhatt. SEWA caters to the needs of women employees in the unorganized sector. Having started off as a Textile Labour Association Branch, today SEWA even has banks for their employees.
SEWA is commonly known as Shree Mahila Seva Sahkari Bank. Established in 1974, SEWA Bank provides financial assistance to those who wish to become entrepreneurs apart from their savings bank service. SEWA Bank started with a capital provided by 4,000 women for Rs. 10 each. In May 1974, SEWA Bank was registered under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India and the State of Gujarat.
SEWA’s aim
SEWA predominantly works for the welfare of women in the unorganized sector. Apart from financial assistance, SEWA has also extended its service in Education, Healthcare and many more segments. SEWA is backed by the women wing of Textile Labours Association started by Gandhiji in 1918. In the initial days, they were able to raise small amounts of money from working women. A research study conducted by SEWA cites that 97% of employed women in the unorganized sector are living in slums and that 93% among them are illiterate. It was also found that on an average, each of them had four children and that one among three women are breadwinners in the family.
Stree behind SEWA
Ela Bhatt is one of the prominent persons behind the birth of SEWA. Ela was born in 1933 to a Brahmin family in Ahmedabad. Being born to a family comprising of advocates, Ela followed the legal career like her relatives. It was while working for the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association that Ela came across women who are roadside vendors and construction workers.
Banking, Healthcare and Diversification
At a time when rural population in India is relying on money lenders for money, SEWA Bank brought forth a drastic change. SEWA Bank, which collects funds from its own members, gives them loans from bank as equity to self-financing low-interest loans. Their success is such that SEWA opened their first ATM at Ahmedabad on 2013. In the first phase, the bank issued an ATM card to 200 members, and within a few months, the card was issued to everyone and the members were taught how to use ATM cards.
Today, millions of destitute women who aspire to become self-employed are dependent on SEWA.
