An Interview with Ela Bhatt, Founder, SEWA-1

As skeptics argue about the lack of evidence proving the tangible effects of microfinance, and investors demand construction of exhaustive metrics to prove its impact, a set of changemakers belonging to a school of thought that sees impact beyond measurement quietly go about their work. Ela Bhatt, Founder of the Self Employed Women''s Association (SEWA) in Ahmedabad, India is one such visionary. In the 1970s, she realized the collective strength of independent women vendors and in a matter of decades transformed them into a force to reckon with—today over 1,000,000 strong. Microfinance Insights had the opportunity to meet Ela Ben (as she is known in the community) and solicit her thoughts on impact.

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People & Blogs

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• Ela Bhatt
• Microfinance Insights
• Social Development