SEWA Snapshot: 40 Years of SEWA Bharat

Celebrating 40 years of empowering women in the informal economy!

Our journey continues, stronger than ever. From mobilising workers for income and social security to promoting digital and financial inclusion, we've continuously strived to provide comprehensive support and opportunities for women to thrive. Our programmes address essential needs like food, nutrition, income, healthcare, housing, childcare, education, and employment. By meeting these needs, we empower women to showcase their leadership and organisational skills, form cooperatives, and achieve self-reliance.

We reflect on our achievements as we celebrate this milestone and look forward to many more years of positive impact. We thank our members, partners, and supporters who have been an integral part of this journey. Together, we'll continue to build a future where every woman is economically empowered and self-reliant. ?As part of our #SEWABharatat40 campaign, we share the inspiring story of Rukmani ben, an aagewan (woman community leader at SEWA) and home-based worker from Sundernagri, Delhi.

Hear about her journey with SEWA Delhi and the message she has for SEWA sisters on this special day by clicking on this link .

Women At The Frontlines Of Climate Change

While we may celebrate days like ‘World Environment Day ’ to protect the earth, climate change is now a harsh reality impacting women in the informal economy. There have been instances of women being unable to deliver babies in nearby primary healthcare centres, due to shortages of water. “Forest fires have destroyed animal feed this year. In the summer months, we have started encountering water scarcity and sources of water are drying up fast. Almora is becoming as hot as Haldwani (in Uttarakhand) these days.”, says Ruchi ben, youth member, SEWA Uttarakhand.

“Summers have become hotter than before. Sometimes, I have to go outside without having much food and I start to experience weakness due to the intense heat. One of the sisters told me that it gets difficult to take a bath when water does not come regularly and it becomes challenging for her to go to work. There is also not much space for household water to flow out and it gets collected at one place.”, says Pinki Devi ben, an agricultural worker and SEWA Bihar member.

Still, conversations and efforts towards protecting the climate must continue. In this vein, World Environment Day was observed by SEWA Delhi, SEWA Bihar, SEWA Uttarakhand, SEWA Nagaland, SEWA Punjab, SEWA West Bengal and SEWA Jharkhand. Activities such as distribution of plant saplings, planting seeds, awareness of climate change, poster making, trainings on waste composting and cleanups were an integral part of this day. Many of our youth members were also a part of these.

“We must plant more trees, reduce our plastic consumption, try to reuse products, and use public transport wherever possible. We should also not allow dirty water to collect in or outside our homes, as this causes a lot of diseases.”, says Farah ben, a youth member from SEWA Delhi, who also aspires to study political science.

“Youth are the future of our country and they will have to bear the brunt of climate change. We must come together and conserve our natural resources now, before it’s too late. If the youth are made aware of topics like global warming and climate change from a younger age, they are more likely to step up and take action.”, says Ruchi ben.

Voices For Change On International Domestic Workers’ Day

“Domestic workers are often given a separate glass to consume water. Employers would not even address them by their names; instead, they would use the term ‘kaamwali’ (domestic worker). They are also not allowed to use the washrooms.”, says Aarti ben, a domestic worker and SEWA Punjab member. SEWA continues to mobilise domestic workers so that they can ask for their rights and entitlements. In light of these challenges faced by domestic workers across the globe, the My Fair Home campaign was started, to bring dignity to their work.

Every year, on 16th June, International Domestic Workers’ Day is commemorated and states carry forward this campaign. Its goals are to bring behavioural change among employers of domestic workers to improve their working relationship, ensure decent work; and create ground-up support for improved legislation and ratification of ILO’s convention C189 . This time around, SEWA Delhi, SEWA Bihar, SEWA Jharkhand, SEWA Punjab, SEWA West Bengal and SEWA Rajasthan observed this day.

“?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????, ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ? ??? ??, ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???-??? ?? ???? ???” ???? ???, ?? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????

(“The heat in Delhi was intense this time, making it difficult to go to work. Many sisters faced issues with water and electricity at home. However, we didn't encounter these problems in Gautam Puri. Whenever there is a water shortage, we approach the Municipal Council, and the water supply is promptly restored. We maintain good relations with them.” says Maina ben, a domestic worker from Delhi.) This is an example which demonstrates the power of mobilising.

“I am thankful to SEWA Jharkhand through which I learned about my rights and entitlements, which include minimum wages, my working hours, and entitlement to holidays that I should receive. I recognise myself as a worker and deserve to work in a safe environment. Now, I negotiate for fair wages and do not work below the minimum wage.”, says Anita ben, a domestic worker and SEWA Jharkhand member.

“I want to emphasise the importance of unity to ensure that our voices are heard. I urge all domestic workers to attend community meetings, as these gatherings raise awareness about the various provisions and schemes available to us at both central and state levels.”, says Renu ben, a domestic worker and SEWA Jharkhand member.

A One-Of-A-Kind Exhibition

“My parents came to Delhi, looking for work. They settled in Bhalswa Dairy, working in waste management. As I was growing up, I too started working alongside them in the landfill. After 10 years, when I got married, I continued working there. During rains, the water from landfills and streets gets accumulated which is a source of many diseases. Children often play there and tend to fall ill. There should be space for water to flow.”, says Sakhira ben, a waste recycler from Delhi and a SEWA Delhi member.

“While it is easier for us to segregate dry waste, when it comes to wet waste, it has items like syringes and glass which are difficult for us to pick out. We often get hurt in the process. The earnings from this work are also quite low.”, says Sayra Bano ben, SEWA Delhi member and waste segregator. “A person who was earning Rs. 500-600 earlier is now earning only half of this.”, says Noor Salma ben, a waste recycler living in Bhalswa Dairy, Delhi. These narratives are the lived realities of many waste recyclers in India. They often do not have access to basic infrastructural facilities like clean water, proper housing and access to toilets.

In 2022, SEWA Delhi started working with waste recyclers in Bhalswa. The term ‘recyclers’ is preferred over ‘segregators’ because the trade community at the last stage of the value chain earns its livelihood by selling recycled waste to smaller contractors. ?To shed light on the lives of waste recyclers in Delhi and West Bengal, SEWA Delhi , with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands , SEWA Bharat and WIEGO , recently held an exhibition. It was a powerful visual depiction of the challenges and contributions of women working in this sector.

Materials from the landfill site were incorporated to give this exhibition a life-like view. Although the exhibition may not solve all their problems, it is a significant step towards making the otherwise invisible yet essential work of women waste recyclers visible. SEWA Delhi since 2022 actively works to bring together these women and compels the local authorities to take notice and address issues.

?Translation:

The fervour of women's power, a tale of forty years

Stories adorned with struggles and successes.

Overcoming every challenge, they forged their own path,

Let us all celebrate the spirit of women's strength together.