SEWA, registered as trade union in 1972, evolved as an organization of poor, self-employed women workers who earned living through their own labor or small businesses. These women, unlike the workers in the organized sector, did not obtain regular salaried employment with welfare benefits. As per estimates of the female labor force in India more than 94 percent had been in the unorganized sector. This unorganized sector consisted of jobs as diverse as hawkers, vendors, head-loading goods in
markets, stitching cloths at home, rolling beedis and weaving cloth. SEWA's main goals had been to organize women workers to achieve their goals of full employment and self-reliance. For SEWA, full employment meant employment whereby workers obtained work security, income security, food security and social security (at least health care, child care and helter).
Overcoming Challenges
The ICT training imparted to the women members has thus been crucial in setting up this new initiative. The challenges faced in the operation of the SSKs had been diverse in nature. To start with, before setting up a SSK, a study was undertaken to determine the training needs and willingness of the local population. This exercise took up a considerable amount of time.
