We’re the world, Sewa women sing at 40

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Were-the-world-Sewa-women-sing-at-40/articleshow/12874593.cms?intenttarget=no

AHMEDABAD: For war widows of northeast Sri Lanka – who have no family wealth or alternate source of income – the Self Employed Women’s Association (Sewa) training programme initiated by the Lankan government turned out to be a boon. These women beamed as they danced to their regional music as part of a programme to commemorate 40 years of Sewa, at the Mangaldas Town Hall on Wednesday. They are testimony to Sewa’s capacity to change lives.

“After losing everything, we were emotionallydisturbed and didn’t know how to overcome the trauma,” says Ragini Akhila who is in the city along with other members from the Sri Lanka Sabha – a sister organization of Sewa. “The financial burden of looking after the household added to the distress. But Sewa’s activities imbibed in us high confidence along with the power of self-reliance. Now I can fulfill my aim to ensure that my children receive good education.”

Along with international members from Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal, Sewa members from Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya were present. They added their regional colour to the stage. The common thread binding the performances and the experience of the women was their triumphover struggles and strife.

Sewa has been developing trade-facilitation centres in several states, identifying local skills and occupations and developing micro-enterprises – like food processing, textiles, garment making, embroidery, solar lanterns, greenhouses and vermi-compost units.

“Though we belong to a matrilinear society, women live in oppressive conditions; hence they are often not independent. Getting acquainted with Sewa has given confidence to many women,” says Bari Khongjoh. “Meghalaya has very fertile land, but the produce is not effectively linked with the market. The training we received in Sewa is helping us develop these market linkages.”

Members from Assam and Kashmir have similar stories to share. “Many people were leaving villages to seek employment,” says Milani Bhatmosumatari from Sonitpur, an interior village in Assam. “Meeting other Sewa women has been very motivational. It has changed our attitude.” She said that with the help of Sewa, employment patterns in her area had changed. Sewa has been working with women in Assam since 2007, focusing on developing organic tea and native textile industry with the help of some new public-private partnerships.

Because of factors like religion, culture and militancy, Kashmiri women skilled in ‘kadai’ work did not pursue their vocation professionally. Sewa has provided them with managerial training.

Welcoming the various Sewamembers, Sewa founder Ela Bhatt spoke about the Sewa philosophy. She said that it was important to work together “to build a stronger, value based Sewa movement- with more than 5 million members, including the younger generation daughters and daughter -in-laws of our members, who will shape the future of Sewa, with their aspirations yet imbibing the same values and philosophy.”Box 1:

Classical commemoration

The classical singer Shubha Mudgal dedicated her hour-long performance to all the women of Sewa. Celebrating 40 years of self-reliance, the association hosted an evening dedicated to music and culture. Another performance was by Buddhist monk and Nepali singer Ani Choying Drolma, who sang of women as peacemakers.

SAARC on radar

Organizing 20,000 women, Sewa along with Homenet Asia, is developing ‘Sabhas’ – trade-facilitating centers – in the seven SAARC countries of South Asia. The sabhas work on the Sewa model, identifying local skills that can be developed into economic opportunities. There are over 50 billion home-based workers in South Asia.

Pratimha Tshanang, 30, Nepal

“Sabha Nepal has given direction to our skills and crafts. Women in Nepal are good at embroidery, knitting, weaving – especially the Dhaka weave. The three-year association with Sewa has increased employment opportunities. Our individual income levels have gone up too.”

Amida Jaan, 42, Afghanistan

“I encountered Sewa through our ministry of women’s affairs. In the post-war Kabul, most families had single income and many mouths to feed. Many self-employed women like me are now confident and self-reliant. We have also started saving money with the Sewa bank. Also, we want to spread the learning from Sewa amid women from other parts of my country.”

Kezang Wangmo, 33, Bhutan

“Turmeric, amla and ginger always grew in our backyards. After the training programme at Sewa, we began to process them as candies and juices and to sell them at our local market. We have become efficient at costing these items, hence we do not incur losses like we used to. This has given us economic independence and confidence.”