The Indian women Ela Bhatts founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), in Gujarat, in 1971. She describes her organisation: ”SEWA is an approved union for poor, independent working women in India. Today, SEWA has more than 700 000 members all over the country. Its goals is to support and strengthen its members on all levels, especially concerning their economic and social standing i.e. the employment and economic independence of the women.”

SEWA only manages women form the so-called informal sector (without work contract and social security). ”Those are”, so the Right Livelihood Laureate Ela Bhatts, “for example construction workers, street vendors and cigarette rollers. They are self-employed. SEWA deals with the employers to ensure a minimum wage. Members of SEWA can get insurance against sickness, accidents and old age. Furthermore, they offer legal advice and lawsuit support as well as financial support. In the moment, 530 saving and credit groups consolidated with SEWA, enable members of rural areas access to savings and loans. SEWA also helps with education, health and home construction. And: SEWA educates its members – most of them illiterate – personally, vocationally and for the work within the union.”

In India, approx. 93 percent of the workers have no labour contract or any kind of social security. Ela Bhatts says: “Sickness, accidents and death often causes tragic situations and state of emergencies within families. It is no surprise that the word largest union of informal workers has its origin in India. There is a reason why the idea of SEWA”, so Ela Bhatts continues, “is rooted in Mahatma Gandhis philosophy that puts self-esteem and dignity in the foreground. Gandhi saw women as key figures of social change. SEWA fights for their political goals as a modern, social organization: independent of caste or religion.”