Ela Bhatt conferred Indra Gandhi Peace Prize
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- Current News
- Monday, 18 February 2013 23:22
- Published on Tuesday, 19 February 2013 13:22
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Gujarat Global News Network, New Delhi
Ela Bhatt, the founder of Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), was conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2011 by President Pranab Mukherjee.
Bhatt was given the prize at Rashtrapati Bhawan in presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her lifetime achievements in empowering women through grassroots entrepreneurship.
Presenting the award, the president said Ela Bhatt's life and work truly reflected the philosophy and ideals espoused by late prime minister Indira Gandhi.
''The prize bestowed upon Ms Bhatt is a tribute to her unflinching zeal towards the betterment of women in society and progress of humanity,'' the president said, adding, ''Ms Bhatt's example would spur many more initiatives in our country and elsewhere, aimed at renewal of society and all-round development of people.''
The President said we must strengthen the systems and processes that facilitate women to take control and claim ownership of their lives. To lend true meaning to empowerment, we have to expand their freedom of choice. As poor women are often incapacitated to act individually, social mobilization for their economic redemption is a critical necessity.
Accepting the award, Bhatt, 80, said, “Certainly, absence of war is not peace. Peace is what keeps war away but it is more than that; peace disarms and renders war useless. Peace is a condition enjoyed by a fair and fertile society. Peace is about restoring the balance in society; only then it is lasting peace.”
“After global recognition, I feel overwhelmed to be recognized by my own country, my own people, it is an honour not only for me, but also for my Sewa sisters", she said.
Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA) a trade union for poor, self-employed women workers in India was founded in 1972 by the Bhatt. SEWA's main office is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and it works in several states of India. SEWA’s main goals are to organize women workers for full employment and self-reliance. SEWA aims to mainstream marginalized, poor women in the informal sector and lift them out of their poverty
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