Padma Bhushan recipient and women’s rights activist Ela Bhatt passes away at 89
Noted women’s rights and micro-finance activist, lawyer and Padma Bhushan recipient Ela Bhatt passed away on Wednesday, November 2, at the age of 89.
Ela Bhatt was a well-known Gandhian and advocated the economic empowerment of women. She founded and headed the Self-employed Women’s Association in India (SEWA). In her pursuit of women’s economic welfare, she founded India’s first women’s bank, the Cooperative Bank of SEWA in 1973. She also co-founded Women’s World Banking in 1979.
Tweeting his condolence, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that Bhatt has left behind an inspiring legacy. Extremely saddened by the passing away of renowned Gandhian & founder of SEWA, Ela Bhatt ji.
A Padma Bhushan recipient and a pioneer of women’s rights, she devoted her life in empowering them through grassroots entrepreneurship. Her exceptional legacy shall always inspire. pic.twitter.com/OjtQoOeEgj — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) November 2, 2022
She received India’s fourth-highest civilian honour Padma Shri in 1985 and the third-highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan, in 1986. For her efforts in empowering women through entrepreneurship, she received the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2011. She also won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1977.
Ela Bhatt is also known for her work with The Elders — a global non-governmental organisation of senior statesmen, peace activists and human rights advocates brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007. Ela Bhatt was a founding member of The Elders. From 2007 till 2016, Ela Bhatt worked with the organisation on issues like gender equality and eradicating social evils, such as child marriage.
Known as a ‘gentle revolutionary’, Ela Bhatt was also one of the early leaders of the microfinance movement. Her work primarily involved making women financially literate and empowered. She has also served as a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation for more than ten years.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that she remained undeterred by attacks on her in ‘New India’.
Ela Bhatt was undeterred by the attacks on her in ‘New India’ and maintained her dignity and grace throughout.