A vision for Women’s empowerment: the story of Ela Bhatt’s SEWA

New Delhi: Elaben Bhatt, the ‘gentle revolutionary’ who pioneered the movement to empower women in India and won global acclaim, died here on November 2, 2022. She founded Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), one of the biggest women-led cooperatives and national trade unions with 2.1 million-strong membership across 18 states.

Bhatt was 89 and is survived by her son Mihir, daughter-in-law and SEWA director Reema Nanavaty and two grandsons. Scores of leaders offered their tributes to Bhatt, who championed the cause of marginalized women, giving dignity, livelihood and leadership ability to millions at the grassroots level.

Bhatt, an exemplar of Gandhian principles, believed simplicity to be a virtue that can solve most world problems. Her spartan residence’s adornments were books on India and Gujarat. Art on her home’s walls were her grandsons’ drawings.

Bhatt practised singing classical music for two hours daily. “Riyaaz and yoga were non-negotiable. She always had a song in her. In fact, she also sang in the ICU.”

Ahmedabad was the crucible of Bhatt’s mission. After completing her law degree, she joined Mahatma Gandhi inspired Textile Labour Association (TLA), India’s oldest labour union, in 1955. After fighting for workers in the organised sector, Bhatt founded SEWA in 1972 to advocate for ‘unprotected labourers’ in the informal sector, who constituted 89% of the workforce back then. A majority of such workers were poor women. In 1974, Bhatt set up a cooperative bank to provide micro loans to women. She went on to co-found Women’s World Banking (WWB), a global network of microfinance organisations, of which she was the Chairperson from 1984 to 1988.

In 1986, she was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. In Parliament, she chaired the National Commission on Self-Employed Women, which was established to investigate the conditions of poor women workers.

Bhatt served as an adviser to multilateral organisations such as the World Bank on matters relating to microfinance, banking and anti-poverty programmes. In 2007, she joined The Elders, a group of world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela to promote human rights and peace. She became an emeritus member of the group in 2016.

Led by Bhatt, SEWA achieved global recognition when after a 17-year struggle, International Labour Organization (ILO) recognised the association as a labour union. Locally, SEWA recorded a major win when India in 2014 passed the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, a major law recognizing the rights of workers in the unorganised sector.

Along her journey, Bhatt was nationally and internationally feted with honours, including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership and France’s Légion d’honneur. In a tweeted message by the Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, he said, “Extremely saddened by the passing away of renowned Gandhian & founder of SEWA, Ela Bhatt ji.

A Padma Bhushan recipient and a pioneer of women’s rights, she devoted her life in empowering them through grassroots entrepreneurship. Her exceptional legacy shall always inspire.”

In a tweeted message by Shri Rahul Gandhi, he said, ‘Saddened by the demise of noted activist and Padma Bhushan awardee, Smt. Ela Bhatt. She devoted her life to Gandhian ideals and transformed the lives of millions of women by empowering them. My heartfelt condolences to her near & dear ones, and her many admirers.”