SEWA Snapshot: SEWA Sisters Lead The Way Through Skill Development, Climate Action & Advocacy

Transitioning From Family Traditions To Modern Skills For Better Employment

“We wish to transition from what our families have been doing and want to learn in-demand skills of today for gainful employment. We are interested in learning stitching, computers, soft toy making and fashion designing.”, say young girls from Lalu Pokhar Sahni Tola area in Munger, Bihar, during a session on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day. They were also the daughters of street vendors from SEWA Bihar, who were either studying or had completed their studies till 12th standard.

“Our family is not financially well off. We struggle with making ends meet. I do a little bit of bridal work to support my family, but I want to learn more skills and become a trained beautician.”, said Suruchi ben, youth member from SEWA Bihar and daughter of an aagewan (woman community leader) at SEWA Bihar. “Undertaking any skill development course these days in Delhi is an expensive affair. In my hostel near Najafgarh, Delhi, the skill enhancement centres are quite far, hence students face difficulties in accessing skilling opportunities.”, says Anjali ben, a youth member from Delhi.

India is home to 253 million adolescents, according to the 2011 Census, and 47% of them are girls. These girls encounter many challenges, including high school dropouts with the onset of menstruation, low literacy rates, unpaid domestic care work burdens, anaemia, malnutrition, and less awareness of mental health issues. On 15th July, every year, World Youth Skills Day is observed to equip the youth with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

On this day, SEWA Delhi and SEWA Bihar aimed to connect youth with wider opportunities in the skill space. In Delhi, 11 girls attended an event where they were given exposure to various ways in which they could gain in-demand skills of today. “For me, this event gave me the motivation to move forward in life despite the challenges. Hearing stories of fellow youth members and their entrepreneurial journeys was nothing short of inspiring.”, says Anjali ben.        

In Bihar, 150 youth members participated in awareness meetings. “Through this, I also got to know about different vocational training programmes that can be undertaken. I want to be a part of the medical field in India but I am still figuring out my niche.”, says Monal ben, a youth member from SEWA Bihar. In SEWA’s experience, we have observed that lack of skills remains a major barrier for women which prevents them from entering the formal sector workforce. Our skill development initiatives are market-driven & market-linked, ensuring that skilling enables women & adolescent girls to earn a livelihood and improve their standard of living. Read more!

Uttarakhand: Animals Destroy Livelihoods

“While fencing can be done to prevent wild pigs from entering the fields to a certain extent, what can be done for monkeys? From 9 am in the morning till 3 pm today, I am trying to guard my field from them. I have planted two kilograms of brinjal, we cannot even consume what we grow. Another issue is that of ration cards. I applied for the same but I’m yet to receive it. I remember two-three years back also we submitted a letter to the authorities to safeguard our fields, but no concrete action can be seen yet.”, says Hema ben, an aagewan (woman community leader at SEWA) and agricultural worker.

“In Rudraprayag, women farmers face two significant challenges: crop destruction by wild animals and a lack of irrigation facilities. I recently grew paddy in my field, but wild pigs completely destroyed it. While I can guard the field during the day, who can watch over it at night? That's when pigs find their chance to wreak havoc. We also need a canal for irrigation, but the state departments keep saying the budget hasn’t been allocated yet.” says Sarojani ben, an aagewan and farmer from Uttarakhand.

These concerns were voiced at a National Workshop held in Uttarakhand on July 19th. Aagewans and SEWA Uttarakhand staff from Almora, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, and Dehradun participated, engaging directly with officials from MGNREGA, the forest department, the labour department, the agricultural department, and more. “One suggested solution was crop insurance for protection against losses caused by wild animals. We also proposed planting more fruit-bearing trees to divert animals away from the fields. For the irrigation issue, a concrete solution could not be proposed. It was only said that the problem shall be presented to higher authorities as canal building is a major work.” Sarojani ben added.

Crop destruction by monkeys remains a critical issue in Uttarakhand with not many solutions for the same. ?While it is important to have a regular interface with local authorities and SEWA members, it is even more crucial that action is taken on the issues faced by them. Recently, SEWA Uttarakhand signed an MOU with Katidhan, where 24 devices were installed to divert animals from entering the fields. These are solar powered animal deterrents. We hope that such initiatives can bring long-lasting impact and reduce cases of human-wildlife conflict.

Leaving Her Mark At The International Labour Organization

“Back in West Bengal, people knew where I lived and if I stepped out of my home. Where I come from, if women venture out of their houses, this very act is associated with shame and contempt. However, in Delhi, I could be invisible and work. I had to migrate to Delhi in order to earn and support my family. However, my problems did not end there. I ended up undertaking domestic work to continue living here. I used to feel suffocated when I initially came to Delhi and was treated poorly by employers.”, says Deepali ben, a domestic worker and member of SEWA Delhi.

On 29th July, a webinar on migrant domestic workers was organised by the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), titled “Working in Freedom, Mobility with Choice! Preventing Trafficking and Forced Labour of Migrant Domestic Workers: Progress, Challenges and Ways Forward.” This day is also observed as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The discussion showcased the lessons which were learned from ILO’s and IDWF’s ‘Work In Freedom’ programme that aims to prevent and reduce women’s vulnerability to trafficking and forced labour. ?

These lessons included understanding issues related to forced labour and trafficking from a societal lens rather than an individual one, coalition of multiple stakeholders to solve issues and the role of caste and class hierarchies in cases of gender-based violence. Deepali ben from SEWA Delhi was invited to speak about her life experience at this session.

“Getting work as a domestic worker is difficult. It takes about 6 months to 1 year to settle here fully. Employers often want to know our caste and religion before employing us. After joining SEWA Delhi, I feel empowered. Today, I can confidently tell my employers that I’m part of SEWA Delhi and ask for my rights and holidays. Like any other formal sector employee who goes to work, we are also the same.”, said Deepali ben during the webinar.

The role of knowledge-sharing, regional processes and global collaboration in receiving support for domestic workers' rights was also emphasised during the discussion. “During the ‘My Fair Home’ campaign, we created a pamphlet for the employers and domestic workers, which elicits how a decent work environment can be ensured. ?We also ask our employers to not discriminate against us and not give separate utensils. We are fighting for a law to get fair wages, proper holidays and social security benefits. We have struggled throughout our lives but for our children, we want a better future where they can study properly and reach greater heights.”, ?added Deepali ben. Watch the full webinar here.

Balancing Motherhood And Farming: Ngulhouu Ben's Journey Of Resilience And Hope

Ngulhouu ben, a 32-year-old farmer from Chiechama unit, joined SEWA Nagaland in November 2020. Living in a rented house with her husband, who works for the Nagaland State Agricultural Department, and their three young children, her days start early at 5:30 am with breakfast preparations and school drop-offs. Despite her demanding role as a mother to a 7-month-old, she dedicates weekends to farming and growing paddy for her family's sustenance.

Her farming relies on rainfall and organic fertilisers like straw and pig dung. However, erratic rainfall and pests, such as rats, pose significant challenges. The family lives on her husband's monthly income of INR 30,000, covering their basic needs and their children's private school education. Ngulhouu ben leverages government schemes like PM KISAN and PM Matru Vandana Yojana and is exploring further support through the Janani Suraksha Yojana.

While her engagement with SEWA Nagaland is limited due to her household responsibilities, she is hopeful about increasing her involvement in farming. The local anganwadi centre is under-utilised due to its hours and location, but she plans to send her daughter there at age 3 to free up some time for chores.

A former teacher, Ngulhouu ben dreams of returning to the profession but feels hindered by her diminished confidence in speaking English, affecting her social interactions. Despite this, she remains hopeful, “I know that when I go back to teaching, I will be able to practice speaking English with my peers and students and I will gain my confidence back.”