SEWA's sister Organizations

“The success of SEWA provides ample proof that women can and do build strong vital organizations around issues that are relevant to them, find viable solutions out of their own experiences and in the process change our society and environment in a healthy, respectful, non-violent and sustainable way”

SEWA believes that the economic power cannot only be left in the hands of those who have capital or to governments; but workers must also conceive, build and expand their own economic strength by establishing their own economic institutions. Also, our experience working with women workers has shown that women have the capacity to anticipate risks and use their resources; they are well equipped to deal with the realities effectively and can gradually climb out of poverty.

Therefore, SEWA has been facilitating its women members to build & manage their own various forms of organizations that includes producers collectives / service provider’s groups, co-operatives, for profit and not-for profit companies that directly link up with the economic mainstream. Each form of organization promoted by SEWA and its members has following characteristics

  • They exist for the benefit of the self employed women members.
  • They are owned by the self employed women
  • They are managed by them
  • They are democratically run
  • They aim towards self reliance, both financially and managerially

Today, SEWA has grown into a family of member-owned economic organizations, that provide livelihood security, reduces vulnerability & lead to economic empowerment of its members. It is similar in structure to a banyan tree that spreads its branches. Over time, the branches grow vines that reach for the ground and take root, becoming trunks themselves; in this way, they become a sprawling forest within the same, ever-expanding tree. Each organization of the SEWA family is independent and autonomous, both financially and in the decision-making process. At the same time, new growth draws strength from the old.

We now have over 4000 SHGs, 110 cooperatives, 15 economic federations, 3 producer companies.

Help Strengthen our members and their Economic Organizations become sustainable...

The SEWA Family

A group of member owned Economic-Organizations promoted by SEWA

  • RUDI Multi Trading Company : Agri-business enterprise with an annual turnover of over INR 12 crores completely owned an managed by over 250000 small holder farmers
  • Hariyali : A section 25 not-for-profit company facilitating poor informal workers access to clean, green energy solutions
  • Gitanjali : Cooperative of waste pickers, manufacturing & marketing stationary products by recycling waste. This cooperative also takes up cleaning work in the large institutions and is involved in solid waste management of the city.
  • SEWA Gram Mahila Haat
  • SEWA Trade Facilitation Center : A section 25 not-for-profit company owned and managed by over 15000 artisans
  • Zavarba Vanaat : A cooperative of handloom weavers
  • Shree Mahila Sewa Sahakari Bank Ltd. : Established in 1974 with an initiative of 4000 self-employed women workers, Shree Mahila SEWA Sahakari Bank or SEWA Bank provides banking solutions to informal women workers keeping in mind their needs.
  • Shri Gujarat Mahila Lok Swasthya Sewa Sahakari Mandali Ltd : A state-level health cooperative, which aims to provide life-saving, preventive health information/education and to provide low cost, appropriate curative services at women’s doorsteps.
  • SEWA Academy : the focal point for SEWA’s training, capacity building, research and communication efforts.
  • VimoSEWA (National Insurance VimoSEWA Cooperative Ltd.) : A multi-state cooperative promoted by SEWA and aims to provide social protection to informal sector women workers and their families.
  • Gujarat Mahila Housing SEWA Trust : Established with a mission to organize and empower women in poor communities to improve their habitat.
  • SEWA Research : SEWA Academy hosts the research wing of SEWA to bring its members, the self employed women, into the mainstream of the world of knowledge through ‘Action oriented research’
  • SEWA Manager ni School : Established in 2005 to equip grassroots women workers with management and entrepreneurial skills to successfully run their micro-enterprises.
  • Video SEWA : established in 1984 as a means to provide training to the members of SEWA and to motivate, mobilize and strengthen the existing membership of SEWA through the use of video recordings and tapes.
  • Shri Mahila SEWA Anasooya Trust : Shri Mahila SEWA Anasooya Trust
  • Vanlaxmi Mandali Eco Tourism : Established in 1986 with the objective of providing landless laborers with livelihood. Offers eco-tourism where guests can enjoy the day in the calm and serene surroundings of the farm and enjoy the clean atmosphere.
  • SEWA Bharat : A national federation of SEWA organizations of women working in the informal economy to support development programs and activities.
  • SEWA Cooperative Federation : Supporting SEWA’s primary, worker-owned cooperatives with access to: capacity-building, market linkages, research, communications, as well as policy advocacy.