Ela Bhatt
Founder of SEWA, the union of self-employed women
- Lived
- 89 yrs
- 1933 – 2022
- Works listed
- 1
- Book
- Honours
- 3
- Most recent 1986
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Ela Bhatt was a lawyer and organiser who founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a trade union for poor women working in the informal economy, and its co-operative bank. A Gandhian and member of The Elders, she died in 2022.
Biography
Lawyer for workers
Ela Bhatt studied law in Ahmedabad and joined the legal department of the Textile Labour Association, a union founded by Mahatma Gandhi, where she saw how women working outside formal jobs had no protection.
SEWA
In 1972 she founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association to organise women such as street vendors, home-based workers and labourers. SEWA grew into one of the largest trade unions in India, with more than a million members.
SEWA Bank
In 1974 SEWA set up a co-operative bank, owned by its members, that gave poor women access to savings and credit, an early example of what later became known as microfinance. She also helped found Women’s World Banking.
Honours
She received the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977), the Right Livelihood Award (1984) and the Padma Bhushan (1986), served in the Rajya Sabha and was a member of The Elders. She died in Ahmedabad on 2 November 2022.
Timeline
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1933
Born in Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency (now Gujarat)
-
1972
Founds SEWA
-
1974
SEWA Bank founded
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1977
Ramon Magsaysay Award
-
1984
Right Livelihood Award
-
1986
Padma Bhushan; Rajya Sabha
-
2022
Dies in Ahmedabad
-
2022
Died, aged 89
Notable works
-
2006
We Are Poor but So Many Book
Awards and honours
-
Ramon Magsaysay Award
1977
-
Right Livelihood Award
1984
-
Padma Bhushan
1986
Did you know?
-
1
SEWA has more than a million members.
-
2
Her bank was owned by poor women themselves.
-
3
She was a member of The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela.
Connections
Related people
Also born on 7 September
Frequently asked
Who is Ela Bhatt?
Ela Bhatt was a lawyer and organiser who founded the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a trade union for poor women working in the informal economy, and its co-operative bank. A Gandhian and member of The Elders, she died in 2022.
When did Ela Bhatt die?
Ela Bhatt died on 2 November 2022 at the age of 89.
Where is Ela Bhatt from?
Ela Bhatt was born in Ahmedabad, Bombay Presidency (now Gujarat).
What is Ela Bhatt known for?
Ela Bhatt is best known for Founding the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and SEWA Bank.
What awards has Ela Bhatt received?
Notable honours include Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977), Right Livelihood Award (1984), Padma Bhushan (1986).
References
- Ela Bhatt — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Ela Bhatt — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Ela Bhatt — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Ela Bhatt (Q467336) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Ela Bhatt”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 2 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Ela Bhatt.” TrackFame, last updated 3 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/ela-bhatt
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