Sustainable Production, Work Conditions
and
Equitable Distribution
By
Self Employed Women’s Association
(SEWA)
Self Employed Women’s Association
(SEWA)
• Established in 1972 by Shri
Elaben Bhatt
• Over 1 million poor, self
employed women as
members
• Largest recognized national
level union of informal sector
workers
• Confluence of three
movements
– Trade Union Movement
– Labour movement
– Women’s movement
Organise women workers to
achieve full employment
i.e. work security, income
security and social secrity
Self Reliance – individually
and collectively :
economically
independent and capable
of making their own
decisions
Home Based Workers:
working from their homes
for a trader, contractor,
are own account, piece rate
workers
MEMBERS’
Manual labourers and service
providers like agricultural
labourers, construction workers,
contract labourers, handcart
pullers, head-loaders, domestic
workers and laundry workers
Vendors or Hawkers
who invest their labour in
vending and earn their
living
PROFILE
Producers who invest their
labour, skill and resources and
take the risk of production and
marketing to earn their living
SEWA -Integrated Approach
 Organizing

Collective
organized
strength
through their associations to actively
participate
in
the
planning,
implementation
and
monitoring
processes of the programmes meant
for them and also in all other affairs
of the nation
To stand firm in the competitive
markets i.e access to infrastructure,
technology, information, education,
knowledge, and relevant skills.

 Social Security
At least health care, child care,
shelter and relief- to combat the
chronic risks faced by them and their
families
Capacity Building
Capital Formation
At the household level through
access to financial services to build
and create assets of their own.
Assets ownership is the surest
weapon to fight vulnerability to
poverty
Members become owners and managers of their own trade.
RUDI – An Example of SEWA’s Effort
For Sustainable Production, Work conditions and
Equitable Distribution
• Initiated by SEWA Gram Mahila Haat
• Serves Rural community : Producers and Consumers
• Aims at poverty alleviation through rural Entrepreneurship, Procurement,
Packaging and Marketing of food grains at the local level
• Development of Village through their own resources
• Integrated Value Chain
• To enhance the earning of agriculture activities
• Create multiple opportunities
• Provide regular and affordable supply of Agriculture products to the rural
members
• RUDI Supply chain
Procurement from farmer
Grading and cleaning
at processing Centres in a
cluster of 15-20 villages
Storage at C.LC
Packing/labeling at processing
haat
Processed stock
Livelihood Opportunity to 9000
member
Sales Outlet at every
village
Finished Goods
Family of Organisations
SEWA’s integrated network of organizations supports every sphere of a member’s life.
• SEWA Bank - cooperative bank for women workers which pumps Rs. 10 million each day into
hands of the poorest women workers in the city of Ahmedabad – 2 lac depositors – working
capital of Rs. 900 million
• SEWA has built a federation of 110 cooperatives of 20000 workers providing services and
making products.
• SEWA Academy fights illiteracy and educates the women workers of the informal economy as
workers, as women, as citizens and as agents of social change – 30000 women a year
• SEWA Social Security – Reaching Health Care and Child care to 200000 members
• SEWA Insurance – Covers 130000 members
• SEWA Housing & Infrastructure – 40000 members given services
• At district level, SEWA has built 11 associations that provide economic and social support
services to poor women workers.
• SEWA Marketing Company – to combat market risks and its own trade facilitation Centre to
fight against trade related risks - Reaching 40,000 producers
• RUDI Multi Trading Company - Market linkages for Agriculture Producers
• SEWA’s Green Livelihood activities : Climate Mitigation and related activities
• SEWA Managers School – Managerial Capacity Building of its members
 From 1200 in 1972 to 700000 members in 2004 spread in 14 districts of
Gujarat and 7 states of India
 From a union in 1972 to now 18 economic institutions including global
trade facilitation center & RUDI Multi Trading Company
LAND AND LIVELIHOOD :
MAJOR ISSUES
• Majority of SEWA members’ livelihood is dependant on land eg.
– Vendors, Small and Marginal Farmers; Agriculture workers, Salt
workers, Home based workers etc.
• Issues faced in context of land and livelihood
– Lack of allotted space for vending
– Urbanisation and Development schemes are not inclusive of the
workers of the informal sector
– Increased acquisition of farm lands by companies
– Setting up of Industrial factories on agricultural lands
– Rehabilitation / Resettlement does not get enough importance
– No Proper Compensation to the poor for the land acquired
– At times companies acquire land illegally leaving the farmers with
no option i.e forced to either accept the compensation or lose their
land
SALE OF LAND AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES
Poor are Forced to Sell Land …………..
• Cost involved in agriculture inputs, low yield, frequent failures in
crop, Irregular rainfall, changing climatic situations etc.
• Lack of proper legal documents (dastavej) for built property and
farms both - laws pertaining to land and property matters,
requirement of legal documents etc.
• Mortgage of land over years
• Government policies not in favor of workers
• Harrassment by the Contractors, brokers, etc. to the land owners
• To meet social expenses like marriages, health related expenses,
come out of effects of natural calamities, etc.
• Exploitations by the companies involved in purchase of land – by
giving assurance for employment, facilitation for better health,
schooling etc. at the time of purchase of land
SALE OF LAND AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES………………Contd..
• Loss of livelihood in the agriculture sector due to companies / factories entering in
agricultural areas
• Setting up of Industrial factories on agricultural lands create (a) threat to
neighbouring lands, (b) effects quality of agri produces, (c) creates Health Problems
in the surrounding as well as consumers of agri products
• Difficult to get new skills and stand in the competitive market
• Survival and livelihood has become difficult for the informal sector workers due to
urbanisation and development
• Livestocks affected due to diminizing grazing land
• Fraud with the farmers in the name of giving huge amounts of monetary returns in
place of their land
• Improper rehabilitation leads to losing identity, livelihood and age old traditions eg.
craft sector, vendors etc.
• Government aids does not reach because of corruption
• Middlemen and contractors are paid heavily – as no direct deals between the land
owners and buyers
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOT
• Nanuben, Ahmedabad: I am a
labourer staying in a village and came
to Ahmedabad many years back. I
bought land of 400 yards at Kadi
village at the rate of Rs. 6000 / 100
yards. We signed the land agreement
on Rs. 20 stamp paper but there was
no legal authentic bond signed. . I built
a home on the same land.
One day without notice, AUDA
demolished our house. We lost
everything and there was no other
place for us to go. I acquired loan from
SEWA Bank. With SEWA’s help I
filed a case in the court. After 14-15
years of battle finally I won the case in
the court.
Faridaben, UP: Central mission going on
for urban development everywhere has
affected two sections in our city i.e. street
vendors and crafts persons. There is a
vending policy but it is not followed
properly. One of the markets where the
vendors used to sit since 25 years
disintegrated and the rehabilitation is not
done properly. And the craft community
staying since past 200 years are facing
many problems as they are disintegrated.
The survival of craft is in question. They
are facing identity crisis. For the craft
survival it is important to rehabilitate them
together in an appropriate place. If it is not
taken care of then the craft shall perish.
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOT
• Leader, Surendranagar District :
Our land is dry and thus could
produce only in monsoons. I have
taken loan of Rs. 2 lacs from a money
lender at the interest rate of 2.5% for
construction of borewell in order to
cultivate in other season as well. Of
this I paid Rs. 1.5 lac from the
produces of 2 years. After that the
crop failed for 5-6 years and thus was
further indebted for 5-6 lacs. I have to
return the money and thus was forced
to sell the land at the rate of Rs. 2 lac /
bigha. I have received Rs. 5 lac as the
earnest money from which I have paid
my debts and from the remaining
amount which is yet to be received I
will purchase another land.
Kamlaben, Surendranagar : Nobody
in our village have sold land and we will
not allow to sell their land. Good that we
are organized with SEWA, else we
would have sold our land long back. It is
because of the awareness and education
in various meetings, wherein we
understand the importance of this
invaluable asset for the farmers - how
could we shall that ? In our village due
to Narmada canal our land was taken by
the government but are not given
enough compensation and thus we are in
trouble – but where shall we complain ?
I have not accepted the cheque of
compensation – I will not take it unless I
get the full compensation of my land
VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOT
Raniben Ahir, Patan : I was doing crafts work and was not owning any land. When
the land was being sold in the village the Sarpanch asked me if I want to purchase as
he knew that I have some savings while associated with SEWA. I very well
understood the importance of ownership, which is one of the 11 self evaluation
questions of SEWA, thus I purchased land of 7 acres and continued to purchase land
from my savings – today I own 50 acres of land.
It makes difference if the ownership is in the name of women, as husbands could not
sell land right away, as our signature would be required.
When I was in need of money I sold my ornaments, because if land is there than we
can produce and earn from it and make new ornaments. Also we would not look bad
if we do not wear ornaments but we need to eat and feed our stomach. The
understanding of having ownership in the name of women came to me while
associated with SEWA else how would have I known this being an illiterate.
Raniben, Patan District : We will never allow members to sell land, we have learnt
the lessons from Shree Elaben 10 years back regarding the importance of land and
not to sell land. I keep a watch in the village that nobody sells land
SEWA’S EFFORTS AND WAY FORWARD
• Work on the issue in an organized way with same understanding
• Work towards sustainable livelihood of members through an
integrated effort which provides them with :
• Livelihood, Market Access and Agri Finance
• Technical Trainings for increase
• Skill Building and Upgradation Trainings
• Agriculture Inputs (Seeds, Fertilizers, Tools & Equipment)
• Access to Technology
• Rainfall Insurance
• Direct Market Linkages
• Access to Technology
• Finance for getting back mortgaged land
Contd……
•
Awareness, Education, participatory training Programmes, Workshops, Conferences etc.
on…..
– Consequences of Agricultural land converting into non Agricultural land - Food
security, health, etc.
– How to acquire back the property which is mortgaged
– Campaign by Grassroot Leaders
– Legal counseling
– Experience sharing Forums
– Inclusion of the women’s name in the ownership of land
– Effects of sale of land on livelihood and survival – understanding longer vision –
funds received would be expensed and give relief from difficulties for a shorter
period but in the long run lives and livelihood would become more difficult
– Importance of land and livelihood for future generation
– If at all the land needs to be sold then it should sold to the one who would use for
the Agriculture purpose and to the resident of same village
– Financial literacy Programmes for the members who have already sold land
Contd……
• Work on following for Land Acquisition Bill 2011….
• Provision for
– Proper compensation for land acquired by the government for development
– Compensation to the family members (dependent on the land for livelihood)
of the land owners for survival
– Social Impact Assessment for the families left behind to suffer
– Distinct Land Acquisition for development in Special Economic Zones
– Reimbursement by the government , including losses faced by the land
owners, for the land initially acquired and eventually not used for the
purpose. 2 expert groups and 1 technical expert in rehabilitation
– Responsibility of collector to listen to objections for rehabilitation
• Appointment of an administrator in Rehabilitation for listening to objections
• Routine review of points related to acquisition and rehabilitation
• Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation / Resettlement have one common law in
the bill which can prove to be a negative aspect
• The ‘Urgency’ clause under which the government has the right to acquire land
without following the normal procedure needs to be looked into
Thank You