Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), Madhya Pradesh / Mahila Shram SEWA Nyas (MSSN)
Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Madhya Pradesh was first started in 1985, with a survey of home-based beedi (a type of cigarette) workers in Indore city inspired by the success of the trade union, SEWA, in Gujarat. As the membership grew, SEWA MP was registered as a separate trade union and a Trust was also registered as Mahila Shram SEWA Nyas (MSSN) in 1991 to carry on educational activities and support the trade union. The vision of SEWA is to organize poor women workers in the informal economy for economic security, social security and self reliance. MSSN addresses issues of women’s labor rights, their recognition and contribution as workers towards the economy, social security of informal sector workers, women’s empowerment, gender equality and socio-economic development of women workers.
The interventions of MSSN led the state government to formulate the Madhya Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board, 2002; Informal Sector Workers' Act, 2004; and the Agricultural Workers' Welfare Board, 2007. In 2006, the state government also implemented National Policy for Urban Street Vendors in Madhya Pradesh.
MSSN has linkages with national and international organizations working on similar issues and are a member of Central Trade Union of SEWA and of SEWA Bharat (National Federation of all the SEWA). MSSN is also an active member and is represented on the executive body of Homenet India and NASVI (National Alliance for Street Vendors in India). At the international level, it is affiliated with (International Union of Food workers) IUF, and Streetnet and is present in the Asia-Pacific Committee of IUF.
MSSN wants to strengthen its work at the grassroots level and expand its union membership to 1million members from the present level of 500,000 members. MSSN adopts the twin strategy of mobilization and advocacy. MSSN also organizes rallies and public meetings to highlight the problems of its members before government and society.
In the coming years MSSN will focus on the following areas:
- Unionizing informal sector women workers in Madhya Pradesh,
- Awareness campaigns about their rights as women workers,
- Policy advocacy with the government for implementation of existing laws and formation of new laws in favor of informal sector workers,
- Campaign for social security for women workers,
- Capacity building of women workers to negotiate and bargain for their rights and entitlements vis-à-vis society and government,
- Organize seminars and workshops for policy makers.
Last updated on Thursday, October 9, 2008.
