‘Linking micro enterprises to global market holds the key for inclusive growth’…….Avik Das
The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), an organisation from Gujarat, started as a small-time business group four decades back and went on to become one of the most prominent body to work for the rural people at the grassroot level. Reema Nanavaty, director, SEWA, in an interview with FE’s Avik Das, talks about why and how the micro enterprises play a pivotal role in cementing India’s economy. Excerpts:
SEWA started its journey in 1972. How has been the journey and how has the scenario changed?
When we started our journey in 1972, we had just about 4,000 members. Now, we have touched the 1.3-million mark. That speaks for itself the growth story of SEWA. We started from Gujarat, now we are present in nine states. We are also working in Saarc. We have our own bank, have more than 140 different cooperatives, a marketing division and more than 31,000 primary village-level producers. We are eyeing to reach out to 2.5 million people in next three years.
What is your expansion plan in rest of the country?
Our approach is need-based and demand-driven. We do not go with a blueprint. We respond to necessity and interests. But we are planning to expand our footprint in the North East and Jammu & Kashmir.
SEWA membership in 2007 was 11,23,542. By a year, in 2008, the number drastically fell to 9,66,139. What was the reason behind?
The major reason was the economic slowdown, which had affected several of our members in different trade, be it agriculture, construction, waste paper collection, garment making. That’s why we are entering into this new kind of initiative, Ananta, with a dual objective to tackle the financial meltdown and the climate hazards.
What should be done to bridge the gap between local producers’ organisations and the global players?
The whole approach should be focused on how to address poverty through trade. In an economy like India, tiny producers are like the wheels of the pyramid. Importance should be given to the interest of these small scale entrepreneurs. More and more business organisations, which are owned and managed by these small players, should come up to link the local bodies to global market and global trade. This will be what we call real inclusive growth.
What do you feel the government’s role should be to encourage small producers?
What is needed is setting up a whole livelihood and market access fund, so that the micro enterprises have access to newer markets and avail modern technology and research investments that are needed.
What is your take on Women’s Bill? Do you feel it will have an impact on empowerment of rural women?
Well, in a country where you need a Bill to empower women is a sad case. But yes, I think it is a positive step. Deserving and able women will now come into leadership. It all depends on a kind of enabling environment.
What are the biggest barriers for the informal sector at present?
The recognition of the informal sector is still a major constraint. Secondly, the kind of investment needed for upliftment of the sector is lagging far behind. Thirdly, the policies and programmes for the sector are not implemented to its potential.
On the technology front, how are you upgrading SEWA?
We use a lot of technology, especially the ICT tools in order to increase our operational efficiency. Even in remotest places, our members use computers, emails, satellite talk back medium to address trade related issues, avail tele-education, tele-agriculture. We use community radio for mass awareness. Since marketing plays an important role, upgradation of scientific knowledge is very important.
How would you like people to see SEWA as — a business organisation, an NGO or a phenomenon?
It’s basically a confluence of three movements — women’s movement, the labour movement and the informal sector workers’ movement.