Mourning the death of women's rights activist and SEWA founder Ela Bhatt
- girlupqueens1
- Dec 5, 2022
- 2 min read
Ela Bhatt with members of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (Source)
“There is no development without self-reliance. But there is no route to self-reliance except by organisation.” – Ela Bhatt
On November 2nd, 2022, Ela Bhatt, an internationally recognized pioneer in women’s empowerment, passed away at age 89. Born in 1933 in India, Ms. Bhatt held a career as a lawyer and social worker. For decades, she was advocating for self-employed women’s labour rights. In 1968, she became the chief of the women's section of the Textile Labour Association in Ahmedabad, India. During this time, she witnessed the insufferable conditions in which the poorest self-employed women in the city were subjected to.
While male workers were protected by labour laws and unions, and some even had work benefits, this was not the case for women. The vast majority of female workers in India were part of the country’s informal sector, meaning that they were not unionized. As a result, they experienced many injustices, and were paid next to nothing for equally demanding jobs.
Ms. Bhatt grew up during Mahatma Gandhi’s movement against the British that led to India’s independence in 1947. Influenced by a nationwide spirit of optimism and Gandhian values, she began her career as a women’s rights activist by legally representing trade union workers who were fighting for fair wages in the textile industry in the Indian state of Gujarat.
In 1972, Ms. Bhatt founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), which has since grown to include over two million members from India and nearby countries. The primary goal of this organization is to secure protection for millions of Indian women in the work force and help them become self-reliant.
SEWA made a life-changing difference for women who never before had a safety net. The organization offered them health insurance, death and maternity benefits, and retirement accounts. Wives and daughters learned to become independent by gaining skills in spinning, pottery and embroidery, which helped them get jobs that were previously considered solely for men.
Perhaps the most influential change SEWA has established was the creation of its own bank in 1974. Today, over 70,000 accounts exist within this bank, and it has rescued thousands of women from financial dependence on moneylenders, allowing them to accumulate land, small assets, and means of production.
Recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, SEWA provided essential services to its members and their communities, including helping them continue their work and providing healthcare. Ms. Bhatt has been internationally recognized for her work. In 1977, she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, given annually for community leadership by a Filipino foundation. She has also received two of India’s highest civilian honors: the Padma Bhushan, in 1985, and the Padma Shri, in 1986. In 2010, Ms. Bhatt was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize, as well as the first-ever Global Fairness Award.
Learn more about Ms. Bhatt’s legacy’s goals and history at the SEWA website https://www.sewa.org/.
Contributors: Suzanne Li
Sources:
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