The Gujarat State Women's Sewa Cooperative Federation
The Gujarat State Women’s Sewa Cooperative Federation Limited (GSWCF) has been working for and with women workers of the informal economy since 1992. Promoted by the Self Employed Women’s Association, SEWA the GSWCF is committed to women’s economic empowerment and self-reliance through their own cooperatives. Currently, the Federation has organized 2,90,000 women into 106 primary cooperatives categorized in six major groups; artisan, dairy, land-based, savings & credit, service & labor, and vendors, with an annual turnover of Rs 233 Crores. These cooperatives are used, managed and owned by women workers as shareholders and through democratically elected boards.
Participant Profile: Shree Kant Kumar (Project Director)
While working with the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Shree Kant has implemented different multi-stakeholders projects, including in the thematic areas of microfinance, micro insurance, livelihoods, health and child care and capacity-building in Gujarat and in African countries. He holds a MBA with specialization in rural marketing, microfinance and social businesses from Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM). His commitment to working with grass-root level social businesses led him from ICICI Prudential Life Insurance to the VimoSEWA, the first multi-state insurance cooperative in India, serving as its Chief Marketing Officer.
