Nanavaty honoured with Padma Shri

AHMEDABAD: She left the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1984 because she felt it was not important to stay in a high position to serve the poor and the strife stricken. Almost thirty years later on a Friday, Reema Nanvaty, 48, chairperson of SEWA Trade Facilitation Centre was conferred the Padma Shri by the President of India for her work and her mission for rural women. Her journey began with the water crisis in Banaskatha, where she found what thousands of women were forced to migrate because they do not have access to portable water and also, there was very little source of livelihood for them. She spent the next decade working with the women and helping the government reach out to the women in these arid regions. Her family members remember how she would go on a Monday to Banaskatha and return only on a Friday, to spend the weekend with the family.

Today, she runs SEWA's trade facilitation center in nine districts, many states in India and also in war stricken countries like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Her focus has been livelihoods. Nanavaty's pioneering effort in Hansiba project - a fashion brand of STFC which represents thousands of women with precious skill of hand embroidery and craft is noteworthy. Today, the embroidery works that have the Hansiba tag, named after Hansiba, SEWA's first and senior most artisan is a global brand.

"It is an honour and recognition for the 1.7 million sisters of SEWA. I dedicate this award to my sisters at SEWA," said Nanavaty. She added that a lot more work has to be done. Working with women artisans in Patan and other villages of Banaskantha was a life changing experience for her. "Women in these arid desert areas were forced to migrate as there was no livelihood. Our work with women artisans, salt pan workers and agriculturists allowed then to stay home and also earn a living."

Nanavaty said she is passionate about working with women in strife torn states like Assam, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and countries like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. "Our aim is to help and generate livelihood for as many sisters in distress as possible," she said.