Released on: April 1, 2008, 12:26 am

Press Release Author: Deepak Gupta

Industry: Advertising

Press Release Summary: In order to unite together at a common platform recently
(25-27 March 2008), SEWA Bharat organized a three day "SEWA Mahotsav" at Ambedkar
Bhawan, Jhandewalan, New Delhi, where around 1200 women members attended the
festival from different parts of our country namely Bihar, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Kerela.

Press Release Body: SEWA Bharat has always worked for the empowerment and betterment
of the lives of the women of informal sector, where they generally lead a life of
hardship. On several occasions, it has provided a platform to the women workers to
come together- not only to raise voice for their demands and rights but also to
celebrate themselves as workers. One such occasion, which provides them such
platform, is the "SEWA Mahotsav". This is a workers' celebration where the women
from different communities, regions and areas from across the country come together
at a common place. This place provides them a larger platform where they share their
experiences of work and home at the national level. This Mahotsav provides them with
an opportunity to celebrate themselves as workers that enhance their identity as
workers. This will also help them in understanding their strengths at larger
platform and at the same time can feel the strength of being a part of SEWA union.
In order to unite together at a common platform recently (25-27 March 2008), SEWA
Bharat organized a three day "SEWA Mahotsav" at Ambedkar Bhawan, Jhandewalan, New
Delhi, where around 1200 women members attended the festival from different parts of
our country namely Bihar, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh and Kerela.
The three-day festival was inaugurated by Shri Ajay Makan (Union Minister of State
for Urban Development, Government of India, New Delhi) and was fulfilled with
colourful cultural programmes by SEWA members from across the country. The festival
also had a display and sale of the colourful handmade products of SEWA members from
different parts of the country in an "Exhibition cum Sale" on all the three days of
the festival.
During the festival thousand of women workers marched from Ramlila Ground to the
Parliament Street for the "Social Security bill" for the workers of informal sector,
raising slogans for their demands and rights. Renana Jhabvala - President of SEWA
Bharat, Manorama Joshi -General Secretary of SEWA Bharat, Jyoti Makvan - General
Secretary of SEWA Gujarat, Shikha Joshi - General Secretary of SEWA M.P and Sanjay
Kumar - National Coordinator of SEWA Bharat, headed this rally. The rally was
followed by a Dharna at Parliament Street. The rally was participated by 1200
members of SEWA from across the country. Through this rally and dharna they urged
the government to ensure that a Bill for Social Security for Unorganised Workers,
which will genuinely meet the needs of the workers and incorporate the following
features; (1) Registration and identity cards for all unorganised workers, (2) Life
and disability insurance, (3) Health insurance, (4) Maternity benefits, (5) Old age
pension, (6) Adequate financial provision from the union budget to the National
Social Security Fund that will be set up for the purpose and (7) Clear
implementation machinery, which will be participatory through Worker Facilitation
Centers.
The three-day festival "SEWA Mahotsav" came to its end on 27th March 2008. The
program commenced with the prize distribution of the winners of the various sports
and cultural competition that were conducted on the previous day. The winners were
judged by three judges - Ms Jyostana Milan, Editor of the SEWA 's News letter, Mr
Utpal Jha from National School of Drama and Ms Shefali, Classical Dancer. Later the
program had a few lively and colourful dance performances by the daughters of
members, song by the kids and a skit by the team of MP.
These women hardly get any chance to celebrate themselves as workers but this
Mahotsav has definitely given them a platform to do so. They all came together from
different corners of the states to make this program a magnificent one. They had a
glorious time in the Mahotsav and went back home with great smiles and memories to
cherish lifelong. The program finally came to its end and everybody sang the tunes
of "Hum Honge Kamyaab" with the hope that when they meet next they have the total
strength of around twenty-five lakhs in the union.


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