Elaben Report

8/8/2019 Elaben Report

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ADARSH INSTITUDE OF MANAGEMENT

MARGOA-GOA.

TOPIC:-INDIAS MOST POWERFULL

WOMEN LEADERS

ELABEN RAMESH BHAAT (SEWA)

DONE BY

MR.ADITYA.V.FADTE

ROLL NO:-04.

CLASS :-FYMBA(AIM)

SUB:-ORGANISATIONAL

BEHAVIOR.


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ELABEN BHATT (Founder of SEWA).

INTRODUCTION:-Ela Ramesh Bhattwasborn on 7 September 1933 in the city of

Ahmedabad,Gujrat in India.She is the founder of the Self-Employed Women's Association of

India (SEWA) and the chairperson ofSEWA Cooperative Bank.A lawyer by training, Bhatt is arespected leader of the international labour, cooperative, women, and micro-financemovements who has won several national and international awards.

Ela Bhatt's childhood was spent in the city ofSurat. Her father, Sumantrai Bhatt, had a

successful law practice. Her mother, Vanalila Vyas, was active in the women's movement.

Bhatt attended the Sarvajanik Girls High School in Surat from 1940 to 1948. She received herBachelor of Arts degree from the M.T.B. College in Surat in 1952. Following graduation Ela

entered the Sir L. A. Shah Law College in Ahmedabad. In 1954 she received her degree inlaw and a Gold Medal for her work on Hindu Law. She then taught English for a short time at

SNDT Women's University, better known as SNDT, in Mumbai. But in 1955 she joined the

legal department of the Textile Labour Association (TLA) in Ahmedabad.[1]

ABOUT SEWA:-Ela ben Bhatt was very much influenced by the fact that thousands offemale textile workers worked elsewhere to supplement the family income, but there were

state laws protecting only those who were solely industrial workers and not these self-employed women. So with the co-operation of Arvind Buch, the then president of TLA

(Textile Labour Association),Ela Bhatt undertook to organize these self-employed womeninto a union under the auspices of the Women's Wing of the TLA. Then in 1972 the Self -

Employed Women's Association (SEWA) was established with Buch as president and Elaben

Bhatt as the general-secretary.

The Self-Employed Womens Association (SEWA) is a trade union of over 300,000 women

in India. Of these, more than 200,000 are poor, self-employed women working in the

informal sector in Gujarat. Founded by Elaben Bhatt, SEWA was registered in 1972 with the

two-fold objective of providing full employment to its members and making them self-

reliant. SEWA has members in 11 of the 25 districts of Gujarat. Two thirds of its members

are based in rural areas. SEWAs membership broadly comprises three types of self-

employed women:

1. Hawkers, vendors, and small businesswomen who buy and sell vegetables, fruits, fish,

eggs, other food items, household goods, and clothes.

2. Home-based workers like weavers, potters, bidi and agarbatti workers, papad rollers,ready-made garment makers, women who process agricultural products, and artisans.

3. Manual labourers and service providers like agricultural labourers, construction workers,

contract labourers, handcart-pullers, hand-loaders, domestic workers, and laundry workers.

Women belonging to different occupations are organized either as unions or cooperatives.These groups are then federated at the district level into local associations run by district-

level executive committees. At the state level, SEWA is led by a 25-member executive


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committee made up of representatives from various districts and occupations. The executivecommittee is elected every 3 years.

SEWA is both an organization and a movement to empower poor, illiterate, and vulnerable

women. It organizes women to ensure that through full employment its members obtain work

security, income security, food security, and social security (at least healthcare, child care,

and shelter). SEWA often works like an NGO for the welfare of its members. But because itis a trade union, all its activities are mandated by the members themselves.

It is spread over 6 states in India Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, KeralaandGujaratSEWA is the largest single trade union in the country with a membership of

687,000women.[2][3]

OBJECTIVES OF SEWA.

1>Full Employment and self-Dependent.

2> Self Reliant and Decision Making Ability.

3> Provide self-Freedom.

SEWA SERVICES.

Supportive services like savings and credit, health care, child care, insurance, legal aid, capacity

building and communication services are important needs of poor women. If women are to achieve

their goals of full employment and self-reliance, these services are essential. Recognising the need

for supportive services, SEWA has helped women take a number of initiatives in organising theseservices for themselves and their SEWA sisters. Many important lessons have been learnt in the

process of organising supportive services for and by poor women. They provide these services in a

decentralised and affordable manner, at the doorsteps of workers. Further, supportive services canbe and are themselves a source of self-employment. For example, midwives charge for their

services and creche workers collect fees for taking care of young children.

Also, women are ready to pay for the services and in fact, this results in the financial viability of the

supportive services. They do not have to be totally dependent on subsidies and grants. Some

supportive services like savings and credit, health and child care have formed their own co-

operatives. these cooperatives have gained operational self sufficiency.


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SEWA Bank

SwashrayiMahilaSewaSahakari Bank is SEWA members' largest cooperative, the first of its kind in

india.The bank is owned by the self-employed women as share holders; policies are formulated by

their own elected Board of women workers. The Bank is professionally run by qualifiedmanagers

accountable to the Board.SEWA Bank was established in 1974 with 4000 members each contributed Rs.10 as share capital.

Today there are 93,000 active depositers. In 1999, SEWA Bank ckelebrated 25 years of providingfinancial services to poor, self-employed women. Always in debt, our members initially raised the

issue of their need for credit so as to free them from the clutches of money-lenders and traders, toenhance their businesses, build up assets in their own name, for children's education, for the several

emergencies including illness that they face and many otherpurposes.SwashrayiMahilaSewa Cooperative was the first of its kind. In fact, obtaining Reserve Bank of

India clearance for this women's bank was itself a long struggle. But women were determined. Theypersevered. They created banking.systems suited to their own needs and have steered their bank

wisely for over two decades. They own their bank and run it themselves through their Board. It has

always been financially sound and viable, earning surpluses and dividends for its share-holders.

SEWA bank is one of Indians biggest microfinance institution run by an NGO.

.

Banking with Women

ActivitiesNo.of

Women

Amount (in lakhs of

Rupees)

Savings accounts 93,000 1187.32

Loans 33,778 937.62

Fixed Deposits 4,375 724.14

Share Capital 27,980 107.86

Total Working

Capital- 38.28

Surplus - 3,059

SEWA Bank's Schemes to Promote Capitalization

Crisis Mitigation Scheme

Housing Finance Scheme

Women Farmers Credit Scheme

Savings for Special Events

'Sunrise Scheme' for Developing Women's Businesses

Sanjeevani Programme[4]

Health CareSEWA has helped its members obtain health care which is run by women themselves. Our approach

emphasizes health education as well as curative care. It also involves coordination and collaborationwith government health services for immunization, micronutrient supplementation, family planning,


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tuberculosis control and referal care at public hospitals, dispensaries and primary health centers.

systems suited to their own needs and have steered their bank wisely for over two decades. Theyown their bank and run it themselves through their Board. It has always been financially sound and

viable, earning surpluses and dividends for its share-holders.[2]

.

SEWA's Approach to Health Security: Key Elements

Linking health security to work security which means that all economic activities at SEWA have ahealth component and all health action, in turn, is linked to producer's groups, workers' trade

committees and self-help groups and their economic activities

Capacity-building of local women especially traditional midwives, so that they become the barefootdoctors of their communities/villages.

Women-centered health care led by local women, including occupational health, reproductive

health, maternal health, mental health and nutrition.

Addressing common health problems like tuberculosis among poor families.

Promotion of health and well-being by providing access to health information and health education.

Linking health services to insurance, provision of basic amenities like sanitation literacy and other

developmental programmes.

Emphasizing self-reliance both in economic terms and in terms of women themselves owning,

controlling and managing their own health activities.[2]

SEWA Childcare through Cooperatives & Local Organisations

In Ahmedabad,Sangini Child Care Workers' Cooperative is running centres for infants and young

children. It has linked with the ICDS and social Welfare Board. In Kheda district, Shaishav Child

Care Workers' Cooperatives is running centres for 0 to 6 year old children of tobacco workers and

agricultural labourers. In Surendranagar district, the Balvikasmandal and local organisation runs

Child Care centres for children of salt workers. It is running Balvadis (day care cantre) in villages

bordering the desert, the little Rann of Kutch and in the desert itself alongside the saltpans.

In Banaskantha district, the Banaskantha DWCRA MahilaSewa Association (BDMSA), is runningcentres for rural workers' involved in agriculture, dairying, land-based activities like nurseries,

gum-collectors and embroidery.


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LEAGAL SERVICE

SEWA's experience in organising workers over the past twenty-six years has shown that they have

to face the law and the police frequently at various times in their lives. Hence, since the very

beginning, SEWA has been providing legal education and support in court cases to its members. In

addition, we have been running a legal advisory centre at SEWA which accepts cases and

complaints lodged by members. These include:

1. Vendors' cases with regard to harassment by municipal corporation, traffic police andresident and consumer associations. It also includes their space-related complaints and

those concerning consfiscation of their goods by the authorities.2. bidiworkers' cases on Provident Fund mentioned earlier, as well as regarding dismissal

from work and stoppage of all work to SEWA members.In addition, 119 agarbatti workers who were to lose their homes due to road-widening by

the town planning department, filed a case in the court against this plan.3. Workmen's compensation cases for injured construction workers and those engaged in

small factories for non-payment of wages by contractors

SEWA's experience in organising workers over the past twenty-six years has shown that they haveto face the law and the police frequently at various times in their lives. Hence, since the very

beginning, SEWA has been providing legal education and support in court cases to its members. Inaddition, we have been running a legal advisory centre at SEWA which accepts cases and

complaints lodged by members. These include:

4. Vendors' cases with regard to harassment by municipal corporation, traffic police andresident and consumer associations. It also includes their space-related complaints and

those concerning consfiscation of their goods by the authorities.

5. bidiworkers' cases on Provident Fund mentioned earlier, as well as regarding dismissalfrom work and stoppage of all work to SEWA members.

In addition, 119 agarbatti workers who were to lose their homes due to road-widening bythe town planning department, filed a case in the court against this plan.

6. Workmen's compensation cases for injured construction workers and those engaged in

small factories for non-payment of wages by contractors.[2]

Capacity Building ofSEWA Members

SEWA Academy is SEWA members' university. It is the focal point for workers' education and

capacity-building. The Academy stresses the self-development of the worker in order that there

talents may be encouraged and developed, and she develops self-confidence and leadership skills.

It is also the means by which SEWA unites its large and diverse membership through commonideology, thus building the SEWA movement.

Towards developing a common understanding of this movement,vision and strategy, this year

SEWA Academy focused on process of mutual learning by sharing between SEWA union leaders.


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These grassroot level 'aagewans' were elected as their local union representatives in SEWA'selections . Five hundred of these elected representatives or 'pratinidhis' meet every month in small

groups to share ideas and experiences and learn of and from each other.

This new educational process is in addition to last year's members' education programme, als

developed with Academy's special input, 20,000 women participated in the workers' education

which covered issues such as organising, our role in the economy, women's movement and valuesof the SEWA movement. In addition to these educational programmes, SEWA Academy activities

are centred on

y 0Training

y Literacy

y Research and Policy Action

Communication through Print and Electronic Media[2]

Video SEWA

The voices, faces, work and lives of our members come alive through Video SEWA. It is powerful medium and one that is effective in bringing information about the world outside their

village to our members. It also honestly and directly conveys womens hopes, struggles and

achievements to a wide audience: policy makers, planners, legislators, politicians, educators,

academics and society in general. When our members learn about their sisters who once were also

within the confines of their four walls but have come out, speak out and are strong leaders, they

feel inspired and motivated.

When our sisters, chikan embroidery workers of Lucknow, saw how their counterparts in

Ahmedabad took to the streets to press for minimum wages, they were convinced about whatcourse of action lay ahead for them. They planned their own rally while watching the videotape on

Ahmedabad garment worker.[2]

SOME ACHEMENTS OF SEWA

1> She was one of the founders of Women's World Banking in 1979.2> Chairperson of the SEWA Cooperative Bank.3> She is the chairperson of International Alliance of Street Vendors,.4> She is also a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation.5> She was Chairperson of Women's World Banking, New York.6> Hillary Clinton visits SEWA, Ahmedabad, to gain insight into its functioning7> Ela Ben Bhatt was the member of Rajyasabha the upper house of Indian parliment.[5][1]

AWARDS.

y She was granted an honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters by HarvardUniversity.y Ela Bhatt was also awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri by the Government of India

in1985.

y Ela Bhatt was also awarded the civilian honourPadma Bhushan in 1986.


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y She was awarded the,Ramon Magsaysay Award forCommunity Leadership in 1977.y She was awarded the theRight Livelihood Award in 1984. y She has been chosen for the Niwano Peace Prize2010 for her contribution to the uplift of

poor women in India.

y Ela Ben Received Women in Creation Award, Alliance de Femme, Paris. Since 1992.y Member executive committee, International Union of Food and Allied Workers, Geneva.

1994

y Care Humanitarian Award,Washigton DC

y Ela ben was chosen for Niwano Peace Prize,Japa for her contribution to the uplift of poor

women in India.[5][1].[8]

Niwano

LETERATURE BY ELABEN.

1}A bookWe Are Poor But So Many which was released in New York,in the year 2005

2}A book Grind of Work in 1989.2}A book Towards Secound Freedom in 2000.

3}A booklet Legal Status of Street Vendors in Cities in 1996.4} A booklet Womens Health and Security: Strengthening Womens Economy in1996.

5} A bookletCooperatives and Empowerment of Women.6} A booklet Mainstreaming the Informal Sector Women.7} A booklet Moving Towards People Centered Economy.

8} A booklet Beyond Microcredit: Structures that increase theeconomic power of thepoor.

9}A booklet Shramashakti.[2][6]


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REFERENCE

[1]en.wikipedia.org/.../Self-Employed_Women's_Association_of_India.

[2]www.sewa.org/

[3]www.jagriti.com

[4]www.sewabank.com/

[5]www.ungei.org

[6] www.blogspot.com/

[7]www.sewainsurance.org/

[8]www.hindu.com

.

Full employment and self


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Provide second freedom

Documents

Elaben Report