SEWA’s more than 1000 members from the villages in Gujarat interacted with secretary Clinton via Skype. Secretary Clinton admired the use of technology for women’s empowerment and rights. The SEWA members shared with Secretary Clinton how they have been using different ICT tools for communicating, sharing & accessing information across villages, districts and with their economic organizations.

Puriben Vaghabhai an embroiderer and shareholder of STFC and a Board member, sharing her journey narrated, how having used our traditional skills we have transformed the lives of our members. We embroider, procure and market. This has given us livelihood security. ‘HANSIBA’ is our brand named after my mother. Our brand has given us increased incomes to each shareholders who now earn up to Rs 3,500 per month but with accessing newer markets, we wish to double our income.

Gauriben Ramabhai said, “You might have seen several companies but ours is a unique one. It is owned by 15,000 rural women artisans like me. Our organization and company is now also joining hands with our sisters in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They come here for training & together we will collectively reach newer markets.

Ramilaben Rohit, a tobacco worker said, “ Six months back I got elected as president of SEWA by our 1.1 million members. We work with an integrated approach to organize women. Secretary Clinton soon responded, “I am proud of you and congratulate you. You got elected as President & I did not!! I will now address you as my “Madame President”.

Secretary Clinton in her address said I am so happy to be here with longtime friends and members of SEWA, 1.2 million strong throughout India. And I want to thank the leaders who have joined me here – Reema Nanavaty, who is SEWA’s general secretary, and Mona Dave, SEWA’s CEO, and my longtime friend, Ella Bhatt, the founder of SEWA, who many years ago came up with what seemed at the time to be a simple idea that has become a model for women, economic progress, and empowerment.

These three women and the others who are here, who have been active in SEWA for many years, have guided this organization so that it is truly a world leader in the empowerment of women. And it’s such an honor to be here with them, and I particularly appreciate Ella, who is a member of the Global Elders group, that consists of people like Nelson Mandela, for coming and traveling here to be with me.

I first visited SEWA in 1995 in Gujarat, and it was an extraordinary experience. From the moment that I stepped into the headquarters, I knew that I was witnessing a transformational undertaking. There are some pictures of us looking somewhat younger, and I have a different hairstyle, as was the usual case.

Oh, it’s over there, right. And I think that people probably have the same experience coming here to Hansiba. To the casual passersby, this may look like any other shop, but it is so much more than that. It is a lifeline for thousands of women across India with valuable skills, but too few opportunities to use them and to realize income from them.

Every link in Hansiba’s supply chain from the raw materials, to the dyes, to the fabrics, to the finished products, is managed by rural women, some of whom are right here before you. The craft they make represents artistic techniques that have been practiced across India for generations, passed on from mothers and daughters to granddaughters, often in the face of extreme poverty and want.

And at this time of global economic turmoil, we can see a disproportionate impact on women. And SEWA represents an innovative and successful approach to sustainable, inclusive development. Upstairs, we saw beautiful embroidery, we saw organic fabrics, we saw vegetable dyes, we saw the cereals and other agricultural products that are being produced, and so much more. I have long argued that women are key to economic progress and social stability, and that is as true here as it is anywhere in the world.

And in a speech I gave last week, I talked about the efforts to build partnerships, and those partnerships are not only with governments. They’re also with the private sector and with NGOs and citizens. And we’ve had a partnership with SEWA. SEWA has come to the United States – I know at least one of the women here who has been to Washington – and to demonstrate not just the products, but the idea behind SEWA. We simply will not make progress in our world if we leave women behind.

Right. The most reliable forum of economic and social progress is the self. And I remember when I was with Ella back in 1995, and women had come from everywhere. Some had walked for 24 hours to be there to talk about what SEWA meant to them. And they are – they found such confidence to stand up for themselves. And Ella, do you want to say a few words about the vision behind SEWA?

I deeply admire how women together by reaching global markets are fighting poverty, changing their lives. Secretary Clinton said, “I was touched by the message Reema showed me by their members. “The most reliable support for us is “SELF”.

Smt. Ela Bhatt, Founder of SEWA in her address said,

“We are honored and happy to extend a hearty welcome to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to SEWA at Hansiba, Mumbai.

Secretary Clinton has been a friend, supporter and guide of SEWA for more than a decade now, since her visit to our headquarters in Ahmedebad in 1995 as the First Lady of the U.S.

Since then, she has continued to take a keen interest in the progress of SEWA and to bring the issues of the poor informal sector workers to global policy debates. We are grateful for her continued support.

I’d also like to extend a welcome to the new Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer and to Ambassador Peter Burleigh, and to our friend and supporter, Consul General Paul Folmsbee.

SEWA began in a modest way as a trade union of women built around livelihood issues. It was an attempt to democratize the informal economy. While doing this, we learnt that the neighborhood as domestic economy and local community had to face the nation and the globe. This virtually required a community theory of international relations. We had to ask how women’s experience in subsistence, survival and security issues could relate to peace and war as visualized by nations and states.

Our first efforts were in terms of rearticulating TERMS OF TRADE.

In an attempt to go beyond MDG which are remote and abstract, we sought thick descriptions of life. We tried to create a LIVELIHOOD INDEX for terms of trade.

A livelihood index would include in positive terms;

1) Access to capital and control of resources by women especially in an informal economy.

2) Women’s control of the body.

3) Access, participation and voice in all issues relating to health and social security.

4) Incorporation of women’s visions of minimizing carbon footprints. e.g. the hundred miles concept”

In response to the question about SEWA’s work in Afghanistan Reema Nanavaty shared how SEWA is working on skill building and ensuring livelihood security based on its integrated approach the war affected women & widows in Afghanistan. More than thousand women who have been trained are now setting up their own business orgainsation in Afghanistan on the lines of STFC.

In response to another question Jyoti Macwan, General Secretary of SEWA sharing her own experience as a tobacco worker who is now elected as general secretary of SEWA said it is organizing that is the key. With organizing and income security, the family especially the men also start cooperating. We take family as the unit of organizing – but under women’s leadership.

Mittal Shah, Secretary of SEWA also shared SEWA’s approach to Healthcare & Health Security for women. At SEWA we integrate Health Security with microfinance, capacity building and livelihood. SEWA based on its experience is also contributing to government’s health policy and SEWA also succeeded in having the social security bill for the informal sector workers.

In response to a question on how SEWA is collaborating with the women producers in Pakistan Mrs. Ela Bhatt, explained how SEWA has been setting up networks of street vendors, of home based workers and through this spreading the movement in South Asian Countries. SEWA is working with home based workers providing them needed product development services, and has set up their brand called “SABAH”. The home based workers form Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be collectively marketing under the “SABAH” brand. They are also been trained at the STFC currently.

The visit ended with “We shall overcome…”sung by SEWA’s members.