Project Description
SEWA is a trade union in Gujarat, which consists of economically backward women workers who make a living through their labour or small enterprises. It has established computers to connect all the villages using Information Technology. These computers will also be used for the vocational training of SEWA members as well as computer-based education of their children.

Project Objectives
SEWA's objectives include providing full employment and economic independence to its members. Its other goals include increasing institutional capacity to provide efficient services and enabling SEWA members to utilize Internet Technology for their benefit.

Intended Beneficiaries
The intended beneficiaries of the project include SEWA members, managers at the grassroots level and their organizations.

Partners Involved
The computers for SEWA were provided by World Computer Exchange (WCE), an interagent organization which helps recycle used computers. Data Warehousing and Management coordinates SEWA's different operations. In 1998 SEWA, in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA), introduced a new management-training centre.

Impact: Costs and Benefits
This project will make an impact on a number of areas. Not only will it enable the employees to manage orders from district centres; it will also work towards the elimination of middlemen. Moreover it will keep the informal sector informed about national and global markets.

Lessons Learned
It was found that the incomes of people working in the informal sector were lower than incomes of people employed in the formal sector. Gender discrimination has led to differences in status, education, credit access, business scale and incomes within the informal sector.

Site preparation for the installation of the computers SEWA also requires access to relevant software for training rural organizers in computer skills.

Constraints/Challenges
SEWA lacks a fixed source of revenue. Even though it receives grants from a number of development organizations, long-term sustainability demands the existence of a regular income source.

Sustainability Factors
Long-term sustainability can be achieved only if the project is able to generate a fixed revenue stream. At present SEWA depends on grants from organizations like UNICEF, The Ford Foundation etc.

Project or Related URLs:

http://www.digitalpartners.org/sewa.html