Which of the following personalities founded Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in the year 1972? She also worked with theGandhian women trade union called Textile Labour Association.

Correct option is D

Ela Bhatt founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in 1972 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. She was a Gandhian activist who worked for the empowerment of self-employed and marginalized women in India. SEWA is a trade union that aims to organize women workers in the informal sector to secure their rights, improve working conditions, and achieve economic independence.

Ela Bhatt’s Contributions:

• Before founding SEWA, she worked with the Textile Labour Association (TLA), which was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology of non-violent trade unionism.
• SEWA is one of the largest organizations advocating for the rights of self-employed women and provides support in areas like microfinance, healthcare, childcare, and vocational training.
• Ela Bhatt was awarded the Padma Bhushan (1986) and the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977) for her contributions to social work and women’s empowerment.

Information Booster:

• SEWA’s impact: SEWA has over 2 million members across India and has influenced policies regarding informal labor rights.
• Gandhian influence: SEWA follows non-violent methods and self-reliance principles inspired by Gandhi.
• Global recognition: SEWA’s model has been studied internationally as a successful example of women-led cooperative movements.