by: NavJeevan

OBIT: SEWA founder, noted Gandhian & woman empowerment activist Elaben Bhatt passes away

NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, NOV 2

Ela Bhatt renowned woman empowerment activist and Gandhian who founded Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 89 following a brief illness at the Ahmedabad Hospital.

Bhatt had also served as a Rajya Sabha MP and was known for her work in empowering impoverished women in the state of Gujarat. She was an adviser to the World Bank. She was also selected for the Niwano Peace Prize in 2010. She was the chairperson of Sabarmati Ashram Trust.

She was the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1977, the Right Livelihood Award in 1984, and the Padma Bhushan in 1986. Notably, in 2007, she joined the Elders, a group of world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela to promote human rights and peace.

Bhatt is survived by a son and a daughter.

She was also the former chancellor of Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi.

She recently gave up the chancellorship of the prestigious Gandhian institute owing to her ill health. Bhatt’s passing away marks the an end of an era. In sharp contrast to her height (she wasn’t tall), her work speaks volumes in sectors of uniting women from the unorganised sector and women’s banking, in particular.

Born in Ahmedabad to Sumantrai Bhatt and Vanallia Vyas, both followers of Gandhi, Bhatt got a degree in law apart from a degree in English.

Set up in 1972, SEWA over the years has grown into a huge umbrella under which lakhs of women working in over 125 different trades are associated.

In 1974, Bhatt started SEWA Bank that gave birth to the microfinance movement across the world.

Bhatt had a message for women that they all should have savings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to express sorrow on the demise of Bhatt. In a post written in Gujarati—the mother tongue of both him and Bhatt—Modi wrote that her contribution in the field of women’s empowerment, social service and education of youth will be remembered for decades to come.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed grief over Bhatt’s demise. He said that as a Padma Bhushan recipient and a pioneer of women’s rights, she devoted her life to empowering them through grassroots entrepreneurship. Her exceptional legacy shall always inspire, he added.

Pouring condolences, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter and wrote, “Saddened by the demise of noted activist and Padma Bhushan awardee, Smt. Ela Bhatt. She devoted her life to Gandhian ideals and transformed the lives of millions of women, by empowering them. My heartfelt condolences to her near & dear ones, and her many admirers.”