Mumbai, 30th July 09: SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) was today honored by the Sierra Club for its work on Green Energy and Green Livelihoods among thousands of women across India at a function in Mumbai. Mr Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club presented the award to Ramilaben Rohit, President of SEWA. SEWA received an Rs 10 lakh gift for its pioneering green economy at the lowest level of India’s economy.

California based, Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with nearly 1.3 million supporters. SEWA is India’s largest poor women’s organization with 1.1 million members.

Speaking at the occasion, Ms Reema Nanavaty, Director, Rural and Economic development at SEWA said, ‘on behalf of SEWA sisters thank Sierra Club for the honour. The Sierra Club ha extended a hand of friendship and motivates us to continue to work towards common goals of fighting poverty with more green and clean measures’.

More than 60% of SEWA’s membership comes from the rural areas and are poorest of the poor from the most disaster prone areas. Thses women consume less oil and coal based energy, recycle many many items in their daily life, productively reuse solid waste when possible and are eager to use, produce, and manage green technology such on solar lamps.

The many benefits of combining new, green technologies with traditional farming techniques are evident in the success of SEWA’s campaign. Through green Energy and Green livelihood initiative 139,665 members earn average annual total income of Rs.1,175 million. Further SEWA’s effort in this area has not only lead towards green livelihoods but have also worked towards mitigating the effects of climate change. “While the rest of the world talks and negotiates, we the poor women of India cut down carbon emission,” said Reema. “We have learned this power of small concrete act by many from Gandhiji,” she added.

To this end, SEWA has trained 3685 barefoot technician women in water conservation, construction, repairs and deepening of water structure, nursery raising, solid waste recycle, fodder growing, vermicompost production, building eco-friendly rural infrastructures, solar lamp production, developing eco-friendly energy sources, garment production with eco-friendly fabrics and natural dyes, green livelihoods focusing on food security and other environmentally friendly and economically beneficial activities. Demand for such training is ten fold.

Biomass, which was earlier burnt, is now being used as a source of organic manure. More than 13 lakh farmer families have been benefited from these eco-friendly campaigns, 26 Lakh hectares of land are brought under organic cultivation and 2018924 trees have been successfully planted and maintained.

Through these Green Energy and Livelihood Initiatives, SEWA has been at the forefront in promoting green energy and generating green livelihoods in villages.

“If poor and women can take leaps towards green and clean economy the others have excuse to be inactive. May we invite all Indians, and also all Americans, today to catch up?” Reema requested.


About SEWA:

Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), founded by Ela Bhatt in 1972 organizes poor women workers in the informal economy. Currently with 1.1 million members SEWA is India’s single largest women’s organization. SEWA works in 9 states of India and has affiliates in South Asia. SEWA’s goals are full employment and self-reliance. SEWA strives to achieve “Second Freedom”: Economic freedom for its members equals freedom from poverty. The challenge of economic freedom is growing much larger than before despite progress for SEWA members on many fronts. (E-mail: reemananavaty@sewa.org).