Skip to main content

Millions of women got identity recognised through committed work of Ela Bhatt

By Amarjeet Kaur* 
The All India Trade Union Congress has sent its deepest condolences on the demise of Ela Bhatt, a Gandhian, labour rights activist and the founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). She was 86 and remained actively associated with SEWA activities till very recently. Her death is a loss to the labour rights movement in India. AITUC dips its flag in salute and honour of Ela Bhatt and shares the agony of the bereaved members of her family and SEWA who suffer the loss.
Committed to the cause of workers and women’s rights, Ela Bhatt has won accolades for her contribution. She was a member of ‘The Elders’, the group of world leaders that was formed by Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu to contribute wisdom to some of the international issues including the Palestine issue. Her hard work won rewards and recognition. Millions of women got their identity recognised through the committed works of Ela Bhatt.
At this juncture when the labour rights and women’s rights are being denied and snatched away, at this important time of history when the trade union movement in this country is waging a struggle to retain the hard won rights while also pursuing for the rights to sustain and grow, Ela Bhatt’s loss is indeed a great loss.
Her legacy may be carried forward by SEWA with all commitment and conviction.
---
General Secretary, AITUC

Comments

Post a Comment

NOTE: Hateful, abusive comments won't be published. -- Editor

TRENDING

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”
Post a Comment
»

If Maoist violence is illegitimate, how is Hindutva, state violence justified? Can right-wing wash off its sins?

By Swami Agnivesh* and Sandeep Pandey** There was major police action against Sudha Bhardwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Varvara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira on 28 August, 2018. Before this police arrested Professor Shoma Sen, Adocate Sudhir Gadling, Sudhir Dhawle, Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson on 6 June. Even before this Dr. Binayak Sen, Soni Sori, Ajay TG, Professor GN Saibaba and Prashant Rahi have been arrested and all these activists have been accused of having links with Maoists.
Post a Comment
»

Caste 'continues to influence' hiring, wages, migration patterns in India

By Rajiv Shah  A recent academic study has highlighted how caste and social identity continue to shape employment opportunities, wages and access to secure livelihoods in India, even as the country projects itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The findings, published in the 2026 Springer volume Unequal Opportunities: An Analysis of Inequalities in Employment Opportunities Among Different Social Groups in Labor Markets of India , argue that structural discrimination remains embedded in both formal and informal labour markets. 
Post a Comment
»