Improving Women’s dignity, welfare, and self-representation in the Informal Economy

IASEW is dedicated to empowering informal women workers through
education and development in four key areas: Training, Literacy, Research,
and Communication. 

Our work with them is tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these women in the informal economy and make them self reliant.

Why this is Important

Self employed women workers of the informal economy in India face multifaceted challenges, including deprivation and discrimination based on factors like caste, class, and employment activity.

These women often have limited access to development opportunities, face discrimination within their families, experience lower consumption levels and poorer health, despite their significant contributions to family income. In the labour market, women are often marginalised, paid less than men, and have limited access to education and skill training. 

IASEW works to empower these women, fostering individual and collective self-reliance through education, capacity building, and leadership training. This enables them to create sustainable livelihoods and live a better quality of life.

Our Work

Training

Recognizing that every informal woman worker possesses untapped potential, IASEW offers training programs designed to help them unlock new possibilities. 

We adopt a holistic approach that harness overall development, focusing on:

  • Enhancing employability to prevent entry into low-paid, unskilled jobs.
  • Promoting upward mobility and improving workplace status.
  • Building confidence and fostering a collective spirit for organising and capacity building.

 

Through training, informal women workers learn to identify and tackle
problems, developing skills and recognizing their leadership capacities within
their homes, communities, and society at large. They also grasp the power of
collective action as workers and SEWA members, aiming to achieve their collective goals.

Read More

Literacy

Different women are at different levels of literacy. To acknowledge their varying needs, we offer literacy programs that cater to informal women workers from diverse backgrounds.  We emphasise functional literacy, which includes awareness regarding social issues, navigating government resources, and digital literacy. These programs are tailored to the specific needs of informal women workers 

Research

Research forms a cornerstone of our work at IASEW. Through our research initiatives, we empower our members by involving them in grassroots research, which also helps develop their confidence and skills. Our members, deeply connected to ground realities, are key contributors to our research, ensuring both authenticity and reliability.  We collaborate with various organisations to broaden our research scope, which includes activities such as, conducting household surveys, studying the impact of socio economic conditions and different thematic areas on the working poor, and performing needs assessments.  This involvement effectively transforms our members into grassroots researchers.

Communication

Our communication efforts are centred around connecting informal women workers with each other, and with the public, policymakers, and government officials. Through platforms like Anasooya Magazine, Akashganga Magazine, E-newsletters, Video SEWA, and Rudi no Radio, we provide these workers with a voice and a platform to be seen and heard.  Our communication channels are crucial in educating them about legal issues, health, nutrition, government policies, and national development plans and programs relevant to their lives and work.

Certification and Evaluation

The periodic evaluation and certification by IASEW enhance the credibility of the training received, boosting trainee’s employment prospects and confidence. This transformation from students to skilled professionals enables them to contribute to the community and economy. 

We also create inclusive spaces for sharing and networking, aiming to bridge the generational gap and facilitate mutual learning between the young and the old. On these platforms, individuals from different age groups come together, exchange perspectives, and share their knowledge and experiences.

Case Studies

Harshidaben Parmar: From Waste Picker to Community Leader

Impact created in the last 30 years

2,963

Literacy Classes Facilitated

76,280

Participants in Literacy Programs

2,600

Teachers Trained

8,796

Participants in Skills Development

4,97,893

Women trained

IASEW is committed to uplifting informal women workers and harnessing their potential as leaders in a larger cause. 

Join us in this journey of making knowledge and possibilities accessible to them, and sharing their wisdom and stories with the rest of the world.