We Are Poor but So Many is a firsthand account of the forming of a women’s Association (SEWA), in India. The vision and the journey of this unique organization are recounted by its founder, Ela R. Bhatt, who leads us into the lives of poor, self-employed women and their world of work. The book explores basic concepts of labor-what constitutes work and who is a worker-by shining a spotlight on the informal sector and its pivotal role in the economy. It is also a celebration of women workers whose invisible hands support not only families but also a nation’s economy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ela R. Bhatt
Ela R. Bhatt is widely recognized as one of the world's most remarkable pioneers and entrepreneurial forces in grassroots development. Known as the "gentle revolutionary," she has dedicated her life to improving the lives of India's poorest and most oppressed women workers. In 1972, she founded the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), a trade union with more than 700,000 members now. She was a member of the Indian Parliament and subsequently a member of the Indian Planning Commission. She founded and served as shair for Women's World Banking, the International Alliance of Home-based Workers (HomeNet), and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing, Organizing (WIEGO). She also served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation for a decade. She has received several awards, including the Roman Magsaysay Award and the Right Livelihood Award, as well as honorary doctorates from Harvard, Yale, and other academic institutions.
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