SEWA Bharat (Self Employed Women's Association Bharat)

The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) is a women’s trade union that was started in Gujarat in 1972 by Smt. Elaben Bhatt, with the aim of organising women in the informal sector. SEWA represents the convergence of three movements: the labour movement, the women’s movement and the cooperative movement. Based on the philosophy of Gandhiji, SEWA’s goal is to achieve full employment and self-reliance for all its members.

SEWA defines ‘full employment’ as employment that provides work security, income security, food security and social security. ‘Self-reliance’ refers to economic self–sufficiency and equitable roles in the decision-making process. These goals are achieved through a strategy of “struggle and development”. The struggle is against the many constraints imposed on women by society and the economy, and the development activities are aimed to strengthen women's collective bargaining power and provide them with sustainable new alternatives.

Genesis of SEWA Bharat:

SEWA’s experience in Gujarat provided encouragement to women in other states as well, with sister organizations being set up in a total of nine states till date. Together, these sister organizations constitute SEWA Bharat, the All-India Federation of Self Employed Women’s Associations. SEWA’s mandate is to highlight the issues of women working in the informal sector, and to strengthen the capacity of the different organizations that serve them. SEWA Bharat is a membership-based organization.

Local community health workers are the cornerstone of SEWA’s health program. Known as sathis, SEWA health workers serve the entire community, and work to organize SEWA members in their villages and neighbourhoods. They are educators, service providers and advocates.

Objective:
The objectives of SEWA’s health programme are as follows:
1. To build the community's capacity to demand their sexual and reproductive rights within a broader framework of the rights to health and social security
2. To work with partners to bridge the gap in government services and increase the availability subsidized or free sexual, reproductive and other health services and advocating for availability, accessibility and quality of public services.
Some of the schemes that SEWA actively works on are:
• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY Maternity benefit for institutional delivery)
• Minority schemes
• National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
• RSBY- insurance for BPL families
• Indira Avas Yojana
• Ladli: Education of the girl child
• Old age and widow pension
• Worker schemes: ex. Bidi cards and entitlements,
• Death benefits
• Disability certification and benefits
• Birth, death and BPL certificates