Ela Bhatt
(1933-)

Indian Social Reformer
1977 Ramon Magsaysay Award
1984 Right Livelihood Award Winner
Schwab Entrepreneur
The Elders

birthdate: September 7
birthplace:
Gujarat, India

QUOTES

It is the women who are the leaders in change and without their participation poverty can never be removed.

I relish simplicity as an all-comprehensive value.

At whatever level we are at we are changing the balance of power in favor of the poor and women. One step is enough. Step by step.

From a miserable passive acceptance of all the injustices, SEWA women, by organising themselves, have attained the courage to stand up and fight, the ability to think, act, react, manage and lead. Self-reliance is what they ultimately want. There is no development without self-reliance. But there is no route to self-reliance except by organisation.

Women are indeed great, as I learn that they are better fighters against poverty than their men, have more calculative, stable, forward looking strategies to deal with their own environment. Everywhere in the country, we found that women were the most committed proponents of our future.

 

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