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SEWA: 2.1 Million Members — World's Largest Women's Trade Union
“Where SEWA Built a Movement That Changed the World”
Gujarat is home to the most consequential women's organization in economic history: SEWA — the Self Employed Women's Association, founded by Ela Bhatt in 1972. With 2.1 million members, SEWA is the world's largest trade union for informal women workers. It has given street vendors, home-based workers, agricultural labourers, and artisans in Gujarat access to banking, health insurance, childcare, and markets — transforming millions of vulnerable women into confident, financially independent entrepreneurs. The SEWA model has been replicated in 20+ countries worldwide.
Gujarat's diamond industry — which processes 90% of the world's rough diamonds — employs over 2 lakh women in polishing and cutting units. While men have traditionally dominated this industry, women have made deep inroads as skilled cutters and in the administrative and export divisions. Simultaneously, Gujarati women's textile heritage — Bandhani tie-dye, Patola double-ikat silk, Gharchola wedding fabric — represents a multi-thousand crore luxury market where women are both the primary producers and the increasingly visible business owners.
The Amul cooperative model — born in Gujarat — transformed Indian dairy. Today, 18,000+ dairy cooperatives in Gujarat include significant women membership and leadership. Women farmers who joined cooperatives 50 years ago as milk suppliers are now cooperative committee members, quality supervisors, and entrepreneurs running downstream dairy product businesses. Gujarat proves that when you organize women economically, the impact compounds across generations.
Social Enterprise & Labour Rights
Founded SEWA in 1972, building the world's largest women's trade union with 2.1 million members. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Her model has influenced women's economic policy in 20+ countries.
Global Corporate Leadership
Gujarati woman who became Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever and then CEO of Chanel — one of the most powerful Indian women in global business
SEWA's model of organizing informal women workers has been replicated in South Africa, Turkey, Yemen, and Latin America. Gujarat's diamond exports — with 2 lakh women workers — power 90% of the world's rough diamond trade. Patola silk from Patan, woven by women, is sold in luxury boutiques across New York, London, and Dubai. Gujarat women have made India a force in both grassroots enterprise and luxury export.
Digital products designed to help you start, grow, and scale your business — wherever you are in India.
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Gujarat has 2.1 million SEWA members alone, 18,000+ women dairy cooperative members, 2 lakh+ women in diamond processing, and hundreds of thousands of women-led small enterprises in textiles, food processing, and handicrafts. Gujarat consistently ranks among India's top states for women's economic participation.
SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association), founded by Ela Bhatt in 1972, is the world's largest trade union for informal women workers. It provides banking, insurance, legal support, and market access to street vendors, home-based workers, artisans, and agricultural women. SEWA has transformed millions of vulnerable women into financially independent entrepreneurs over 50 years.
Gujarat women contribute through diamond exports (90% of world's rough diamond processing), textile exports (Bandhani, Patola, Gharchola), pharmaceutical manufacturing, and dairy products. The state is among India's top 3 in total MSME exports, with women's enterprises contributing a significant and growing share.
Women in Gujarat's textile and handicraft sector are using Instagram and WhatsApp Business to sell directly to global buyers. Social media templates designed for luxury and artisan products, AI tools for product descriptions, and business eBooks on export processes are the most sought-after digital tools for Gujarat women entrepreneurs.
Gujarat's traditional crafts — Bandhani, Kutchi embroidery, Patola — have built-in global demand. Start with high-quality photography of your work, build an Instagram portfolio, and use social media templates to post consistently. The story of your craft, your hands, your process — that is what international buyers pay a premium for.