An Exclusive Interview with Padma Bhushan Ela Bhatt , (Magsaysay laureate)
Padama Bhushan Ela Bhatt
MF Focus: Founding SEWA helped practically so many women getting out of poverty and becom ing more self-confident. What about the political impact?
Bhatt: This is part of the game, SEWA has grown large and has its presence. We are dealing in the mainstream economy and we are bound to shed up the power structures: With the moneylenders, in our homes and villages and of course move to the government. We need to be better organized, based on our values.
MF Focus: You are still convinced about using the method of civil disobedience?
Bhatt: Itself civil disobedience is a protest and whatever is unjust, you have to do something. There are several ways and civil disobedience is one, we should use when necessary.
MF Focus: What is important and what can be done, to abandon the lack of women’s self-confidence?
Bhatt: The most important thing is coming together. Those who are alone are weak and more vulnerable, they are more often poor. We need to rely on certain inclusive values and our mission. The members should own an manage their corporates. This is a fluent process which empowers. Women have to start facing the reality and start taking initiative.
MF Focus: In a few days the election will begin in India…
Bhatt: We have our own manifesto and sent it to the candidates, trying to influence them. Nobody of the candidates has women as economic active agents in his/her programme.
MF Focus: What do you expect from the international level, industrialized countries for fighting poverty and improving women’s situation?
Bhatt: All these theoretical concepts and models for development and management are coming from undustrialised countries. And they failed, they created gaps, even farmers are hungry. All these systems and models should be devastated.
All this has to change, we need a totally new thinking and women are the solution. We need to be aware of nature and rely on women. This is the answer.
