Unlocking Strength and Resilience: The Self Employed Women’s Association’s COVID-19 Strategies in Delhi

The Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has over 2.5 million members across 18 states in India. SEWA organizes women workers to achieve full employment and self-reliance using a strategy of struggle and development. This brief provides insight into the work of SEWA Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic to spotlight organizational strategy.

• SEWA Delhi supported nearly 170,000 households using many different relief methods, including food distribution, livelihood restoration, awareness drives, and access to social security. They first focused on direct provisions to the communities they serve, and then began advocating for systemic solutions.
• A network of grass-roots leaders, Aagewans, are the essential connection between the community and SEWA. These women leaders receive continuous training within SEWA and, during the pandemic, they served as a critical bridge between communities they live in and key stakeholders.
• One-stop community centres – SEWA Shakti Kendras – served as spaces for coordinating and supporting frontline activities, enhancing their services and capabilities. They also provided a safe haven for women experiencing violence at home.
• The COVID-19 crisis highlighted women community leaders’ sense of responsibility for their communities and ability to build community resilience, with many examples of these leaders negotiating with local and state officials, independent of SEWA Delhi staff. This shows the long-term benefits of SEWA’s continuous investment in women leaders.