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Women’s Rights Crusader Elaben Bhatt Passes Away At 89

Elaben Bhatt

Elaben Bhatt was the founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) which is one of the biggest women’s cooperatives and national trade unions registered in 1972

Ahmadabad: Women’s Rights Crusader Ela R Bhatt passed away today. She was admitted to hospital as she was quite ill. She was 89 years old.

She was the founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). SEWA is one of the biggest women’s cooperatives and national trade unions registered in 1972. The organization has a membership base of over 2.1 million poor, self-employed women workers from informal sectors across 18 states and units abroad.

Elaben also served as chairman of the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT). Bhatt had recently resigned from the post of Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth, founded by Mahatma Gandhi. She resigned as her health conditions were not good.

Also Read: Actress And Filmmaker Pooja Bhatt Walks With Rahul Gandhi In Bharat Jodo Yatra

Born on September 7, 1933, to an activist mother Vanalilaben, and advocate father Sumantrai Bhatt in Ahmedabad, Elaben grew up in a politically charged-up family environment, which sowed the seeds of social action even before she turned 14. She went to the Sarwajanik Girls High school in Surat and graduated from MTB Arts College. Later she pursued law from Ahmadabad and bagged a gold medal in Hindu Law. She was married to Ramesh Bhatt, an Economics professor at Gujarat Vidhyapeeth.

After completing law, in 1955 she joined the legal department of the oldest union of textile workers called the Textile Labour Association.

The social activist was appointed a Rajya Sabha MP. She served as MP till 1989. In 2007 she joined Nelson Mandela’s founded Elders group to promote human rights and peace.

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Jammu-Kashmir: Meet Seema Devi, First Woman E-Rickshaw Driver

ANI
E-Rickshaw

Seema Devi from Jammu’s Nagrota area was a virtual unknown till she resolved to earn a living for herself and find a way to support her husband.

Jammu:  Seema Devi from Jammu’s Nagrota area was a virtual unknown till she resolved to earn a living for herself and find a way to support her husband. The first woman e-rickshaw driver from the Valley, Seema Devi said the move to chart a source of living for herself stemmed from the urge to help her husband financially.

Seema said she explored many avenues to earn a living for herself till her husband learned that e-rickshaws were available for purchase at subsidised rates. Before long, the couple bought a three-wheeler on EMI (easy monthly instalment) scheme and Seema’s husband took it upon himself to teach her to drive the vehicle.

Having taken the driving lessons in earnest from her spouse, Seema is now not only a professional e-rickshaw driver ferrying passengers to their desired destinations in Nagrota but is also making good money out of it.

However, she conceded that the journey to becoming the first woman e-rickshaw driver wasn’t rosy as she had to overcome certain inhibitions and the nervousness of having passersby and commuters stare at her in amusement.

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A mother of three, Seema said she has got over those initial hiccups and is happy to be earning for her family and children. She added that her family members were unstinting in their support to her in this pursuit and her fellow residents have come to appreciate her resolve to make a living for herself.

Fellow locals said Seema Devi is an inspiration for other women who aspire to make a living for themselves and their households.

Seema said that her day job has not been an obstacle to carrying out her regular household chores. She said she sets out with her vehicle early in the morning and caters to her household duties as and when she gets time in between.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by HW News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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