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SEWA founder and women's activist Ela Bhatt passes away at 89; PM Modi, Congress leaders condole

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 02 Nov 2022, 10:58 am

Women's rights activist and Padmabhushan recipient Ela Bhatt passed away on Wednesday at the age of 89.

A well-known Gandhian, Bhatt founded and headed the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) through which worked to uplift the lives of millions of women and provided them with micro-loans in her pursuit to make them economically literate and empowered.

"It is with profound grief that we announce the passing away of our beloved and respected founder, Smt. Elaben Bhatt, a pioneer in advocating for women workers' rights, we strive to carry her legacy forward," SEWA Bharat tweeted.

She founded India’s first women’s bank, the Cooperative Bank of SEWA in 1973. She also co-founded Women’s World Banking in 1979.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her death on Twitter.

"Sad to know about the death of Elaben Bhatt. She will be remembered long for her work for the promotion of women empowerment, social service and education among the youth. Condolences to her family members and admirers," he wrote in Gujarati.

Tweeting his condolence, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Bhatt has left behind an inspiring legacy.

Known as a ‘gentle revolutionary’, Ela Bhatt was a founding member of The Elders — an international non-governmental organisation of senior statesmen, peace activists and human rights activists brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007.

She worked with the organisation from 2007 till 2016 on issues like gender equality and wiping out social evils like child marriage.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that she remained undeterred by attacks on her in 'New India'.

She has also served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation for more than ten years.

Awards and honours

She was awarded India's fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 1985 and the third-highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan, in 1986.

For her efforts in empowering women through entrepreneurship, the Gandhi Peace Prize was conferred on her in 2011.

She also won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1977.