SEWA Self Employed Womens Association

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SEWA(Self Employed Womens Association)

• Vinayak Ghatate
• SEWA

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SEWA and IT
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SEWA and IT

• The self-employed Womens Association(SEWA) is a
  member-based organization working for the
  socio-economic development of poor self-employed
  women in India.
• SEWAs membership includes 250,000 women, of
  which 2/3 are rural, living either below or
  marginally above the poverty line.
• As majority of SEWAs members live in rural
  disaster prone areas--SEWAs primary goal is to
  promote local income generating opportunities as
  a means of achieving self-reliance and
  sustainability among its members.

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SEWA Networked

• SEWA has planned to network 200 computers by
  placing them in all its 11 districts.
• Use of computer in rural areas will have
  substantial impact in increasing the efficiency
  levels by
• 1) Skill training.
• 2) Communication.
• 3) Managing orders from districts centres.
• 4) Distribution of work in far-flung areas and
  maintaining accounts.
• 5) Monitoring.
• 6) Reporting.

IT will help in optimal utilization of time and
resources
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SEWA Networked

• This will lead towards
• Strengthening work efficiency
• Economic growth
• Wealth creation of its member
• Training and Capacity Building.

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SEWA Networked

• This network solution will be a combination of a
  lease line and dial-up.
• From inner village to centre the data will
  transfer through dialup connection, this data
  after scrutiny will be sent to the SEWA main
  centre with the help of lease line.
• This mixed solution is envisaged to be the most
  cost-effective solution.

SEWA
Patan
Kutch
Kheda
Inner Village
Inner Village
Inner Village
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Customized Software

• SEWA has plan for installing customised software
  in its selected villages which will be in
  gujarati language.
• For this SEWA is planning to decrease illiteracy
  with the help of JeevanShala (a unit of SEWA).
• SEWA is developing software for various rural
  economic activities, e.g. Dairy, Embroidery,
  Water management etc.

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Customised Software

• SEWA has already introduced software in the milk
  cooperative,in Motipipli village which has saved
  money and time in testing the consistency of milk
  and eliminating fraud.
• Garbar Machine Computerized Milk Co-op

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SEWA and IT

• SEWA also plans to impart computer-based
  education to the children of SEWA members in
  rural as well as urban areas.
• This can create better employment
  opportunities.

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IT and Disaster Management

• Information and Communication technology proved
  very fruitful when critical situation due to
  major earthquake took place.
• SEWA took help from DMI for setting up
  Communication Centres.
• The Communication Centre comprised of email and
  internet connections, satellite phones and VSAT
  equipments.
• SEWA used SatComm mode for interactive talk back
  sessions for planning with the communities.

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IT and Disaster Management

• This mechanism of IT communication proved very
  fast and effective for first hand participatory
  planning.
• Thus, within a short span of 15 days, SEWA was
  able to integrate micro plan for village
  rehabilitation programme in more than 100
  villages.
• Ensuring timely access to proper use of
  Information Technology enabled SEWA to mobilize
  the needed relief material and make relief
  effective.
• Therefore, in order to have effective disaster
  preparedness and mitigation, access to
  Information Technology medium at block and
  village level is vital.

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Thank You