Mumbai, July 18 (Inditop.com) “Impressed” as she is with Indian women, visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Saturday renewed her association with the artisans of the Self Employed Women Association (SEWA), a group she first came into contact with 14 years ago when she was America’s first lady.
Clinton was extended a traditional Gujarati welcome when she arrived at SEWA’s Hansiba outlet at Napean Sea Road in south Mumbai, where she spent a little over an hour.
“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 multicoloured quilt. Spotting a white dupatta, she pulled out a pen and inscribed her autograph on it, making it invaluable now.
Clinton interacted with around a dozen SEWA volunteers, attired in their traditional finery from the remotest parts of Gujarat.
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. She 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 of SEWA. 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.
