What is the full form of SEWA?
The full form of SEWA is Self Employed Women’s Association. It is a low-income, self-employed women’s trade union registered under the initiative of Ela Bhatt in April 1972. It is registered under the 1926 Act of Indian Trade Unions.
It is essentially an association of women workers who are poor and self-employed, who earn their money via their employment, company, and initiatives. Over 94 percent of India’s total female employees work in an unorganized organization. They would not get the daily wage jobs with social security like the organized sectors’ women workers.
Objectives of SEWA
The main objectives of the SEWA are listed below.
- For all its participants, SEWA strives to reach full employment and self-reliance.
- Full employment implies work, which guarantees workers’ safety, the security of income, dietary security, social protection, etc.
- Self-reliance means that the female worker, personally, collectively & financially, and in a decision-making capacity, should be self-reliant and autonomous.
The Layout of SEWA
- In India, any self-employed female employee could become a part of SEWA. Its membership fee is just five rupees yearly.
- A two-tier layer of elected leaders controls the operation of the union.
- The representatives of every trade and afterwards the elected officials of the Trade Council shall elect the representatives.
- In addition, parallel to the Trade Council, the Trade Committee also occurs in each trade council.
- The trade council elects twenty-five members to the Executive Committee every three years.
- The trade union’s office-bearers shall be appointed from among the representatives of the Executive Committee and the President shall be appointed from trade with the largest number of members.
Functions of SEWA
- Through the strategy that involves struggle and growth, SEWA allows women employees to get economic growth and become independent.
- The fight is also against the limitations imposed by society and the economy on such women workers. At the same time, growth includes strengthening women’s negotiating power and offering them better economic opportunities.
- Such an approach is implemented by the collective efforts of unions & cooperatives.
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