Mumbai, July 18 (Inditop.com) Visibly delighted, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listened with rapt attention as a group of women artisans greeted her with “We shall overcome” — in Gujarati — as she arrived at their handicrafts outlet here, soon after she declared she was “impressed” with Indian women.
Clinton, clad in a bright red business suit accessorised with a red beaded necklace and her hair neatly gelled back, couldn’t contain her glee as a crowd of women surrounded her at the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) outlet to sing a translation of the legendary song. She was also wearing a cotton yarn garland given to her by the SEWA workers.
The artisans, hailing from the remote villages of Kutch, were in their traditional wear, with some in saris. As they stood along with Clinton to sing “We shall overcome”, it was a testimony to their resilience and their determination to be to self-reliant. With a beaming smile on her face, Clinton nodded to the rhythm of the song.
The song ended with the slogan “Hum sab ek hain (We all are united)” that pointed to SEWA’s aim of taking its membership of women artisans to 2.5 million.
For Clinton, the visit to the Hansiba outlet at Napean Sea Road in south Mumbai served to renewe her association with the artisans of SEWA, a group she first came into contact with 14 years ago when she was America’s first lady.
“I am very happy to be here in your midst and meeting you all,” she said after closely examining the textiles and handicrafts displayed by the artisans.
“This is very nice. Thank you very much,” Clinton said after the artisans gifted her a handmade multi-coloured quilt. Spotting a white dupatta, she pulled out a pen and inscribed her autograph on it.
She was updated on the progress achieved by the Global Women’s Trade Finance Council founded in 2007 in New York to take the work of grassroots artisans to the global level and link them to the world markets and to improve the situation of women in underdeveloped and developing countries. Clinton and SEWA founder Ela Bhatt co-chair the council.
Clinton’s association with SEWA dates back to 1995 when she met Bhatt and Reema Nanavaty. Since then, she has made several visits to the NGO’s offices in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
The Hansiba brand is a revolution inspired by Hansibaben, SEWA’s first rural artisan, who, through her courage and determination inspired SEWA and showed the way to thousands of rural women to pull themselves out of poverty.
Hansiba belongs to STFC (SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre), a not-for-profit company jointly owned and managed by over 3,200 rural artisans. Right from the raw material stage to the finishing touches, the entire supply chain is made up of rural women.
All Hansiba products are hand embroidered and hand crafted. Sixty-five percent of all sales go directly to the artisans, who are the shareholders of the company.
Earlier Saturday, while addressing a press conference, Clinton said: “I am very impressed with Indian women.”
“I have been in touch with a number of organisations that are promoting economic opportunities and greater choices in the lives of women here in India. Enormous amount of progress has been made in this field,” she added.
While stressing that much more remained to be done for women’s empowerment, Clinton said that the development of a nation is directly linked to the progress of women.
“It is absolutely undeniable that the progress of women is directly linked to the progress of any country. The more women have the rights, education, employment opportunities, access to credit, role in decision making in family and community, the more development will take place.
“Progress that has been made is extraordinary. But much more needs to be done. It is a priority of Indian government to create more literacy among women,” said Clinton.
Clinton arrived here late Friday and was immediately taken to the Taj hotel, where she is staying as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the 26/11 terror attack.
Clinton will fly to New Delhi Sunday for meetings with India’s political leaders and members of the civil society.
