SEWA Full Form
by Yogi P - October 6, 2023
Full form of SEWA
SEWA stands for Self-Employed Women’s Association. It is a trade union for self-employed women in India, founded in 1972 by Ela Bhatt. SEWA is one of the largest women’s trade unions in the world, with over 1.7 million members.
Objectives of SEWA
The main objectives of SEWA are to:
- Achieve full employment and self-reliance for all its members.
- Ensure that all members have access to safe and secure work, with a guaranteed income, food security, and social protection.
- Empower women workers to be self-reliant and autonomous, personally, collectively, financially, and in terms of decision-making.
How SEWA is organized
SEWA is organized into two tiers:
- Trade committees: These are formed by women workers in specific trades, such as garment workers, street vendors, and construction workers.
- Trade councils: These are made up of representatives from the trade committees.
The trade councils elect a 25-member Executive Committee every three years. The office-bearers of the trade union are appointed from among the members of the Executive Committee, with the President being appointed from the trade with the largest number of members.
What SEWA does
SEWA uses a combination of struggle and development to achieve its objectives. Struggle involves fighting against the limitations imposed on self-employed women workers by society and the economy. Development involves strengthening women’s negotiating power and offering them better economic opportunities.
SEWA implements this approach through a variety of programs and initiatives, including:
- Organizing women workers into trade unions and cooperatives.
- Providing training and education to women workers.
- Negotiating with governments and employers on behalf of women workers.
- Providing access to financial services and credit.
- Running social security programs, such as health insurance and childcare.
SEWA has played a significant role in improving the lives of self-employed women workers in India. It has helped to raise their wages, improve their working conditions, and provide them with access to essential services. SEWA is a model for other organizations working to empower women workers around the world.
