Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 26 May 2013

With official documents in hand, in this series I am trying to narrate the details of crorepati non-government organizations functioning in Gujarat – author

While doing a series on crorepati NGOs functioning in Gujarat, I just can’t miss SEWA(Self Employed Women’s Association) – the organization headquartered in Ahmedabad, and visited by Hillary Clinton twice. In fact SEWA is the organization which is mentioned and admired by Hillary Clinton in her book. American envoys to India visit Sewa, meet SEWA’s Reemaben Nanavati when they visit Ahmedabad.Then they talk about situation of Gujarat under Mr. Narendra Modi with Sewa’s Reemaben and report it to Washington. Sewa is the organization that enjoys extremely good image and reputation. The organization enjoys good spread and reach in its segment.

As a reporter who covered SEWA for a decade, I randomly estimated the total figure of donations to SEWA organizations per year at around ten crores. I asked an investment banker friend, my mother and couple of other journalist friends. They estimated the figure of possible donation to SEWA organizations at around 20-50 crores in six years.

The official documents however suggest that the figures of total foreign donation(yes only foreign donation) received by five SEWA organizations(yes only five, while there are many more) in last six years was as high as Rs 140 crore!

Self Employed Women’s Association (Sewa) has been described as Economic, Educational, Social NGO. Its registered office has been shown as Sewa Reception Centre, ,Opp. Victoria Garden,Bhadra, AHMEDABAD – 380001. In year 2011-12, Sewa received Rs.13,79,77,527.90 foreign fund. Sewa Bharat, another Sewa NGO registered at same address received Rs 6,13,12,065.72 from abroad during same year. Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust, another organization of Sewa registered at same address received Rs. 3,96,21,995.10 in same year. Indian Academy For Self Employed Women, another organization of SEWA received foreign fund of Rs.3,84,22,629.69. Sewa’s one more organization Mahila Sewa Trust, registered at Sewa Reception Centre, Opp. Victoria Garden, Bhadra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 380001 received Rs. 1,30,51,824.00 during this year. If we exclude internal transfer of funds among these NGOs, the net foreign money received from outside organizations abroad was Rs. 24,90,79,746.91 in 2011-12.

In year 2010-11 Mahila Sewa Trust received Rs. 13445594.00 from abroad. Indian Academy For Self Employed Women received Rs. 22703619.00 from abroad. Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust received Rs. 39927591.31 foreign money of which Rs 1,68,44,229 were internally sourced. Sewa Bharat received Rs 4,38,80,502.08 from foreign land. Sewa received Rs 22,95,94,579.03 from foreign countries. Total money received from abroad was Rs 30,92,72,887.92 in year 2010-11.

Coming to year 2009-10, Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust received Rs 2,49,13,350.00 this year from abroad. Friends of Women’s World Banking India received Rs. 2,84,92,954.00, Sewa Bharat received Rs 30226102.07, Mahila Sewa Trust recieved Rs 7,86,12,534.50, Sewa received Rs 11,10,68,285.33. Thus in this year, these five Sewa organizations received Rs 24,25,25,566.9 foreign money.

In year 2008-09, Friends of Women’s World Banking India received Rs 1,03,06,060.00, Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust received Rs 26275831.39, Mahila Sewa Trust Rs 3,57,52,388.03 , Sewa Bharat Rs 3,78,06,753.81 and Sewa Rs 14,27,82,170.63. Thus the total figure of foreign donation received was Rs 24,55,71,883.86.

In year 2007-08, Sewa received Rs 7,0017,071.36, Mahila Sewa Trust recieved Rs 5,28,27,165.69, Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust receieved Rs 5,28,27,165.69, Sewa Bharat received Rs 2,44,10,464.73 and Friends of Women’s World Banking India received Rs 1,03,88,560.00. Total funds received from abroad was Rs 18,30,63,291.89.

In 2006-2007, Sewa received Rs 5,49,24,832.09, Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust Rs 5,32,27,620.00, Sewa Bharat Rs 1,16,80,408.51, Friends of Women’s World Banking India Rs 2,47,39,915.00. The total figure was Rs 17,61,94,772.4.

So we have doccuments of six years, and total figure foreign donation received by five SEWA organizations is Rs. 1,40,57,08,149.88, or 1.4 billion.

Following were the donors to Sewa organizations(some names may repeat in the list)

Bala Mandir research foundation, Chennai
H.A.F (B), Part-1, Sector-10,,Dwarka Subcity, New Delhi-75
Niwano Peace Foundation, Japan
Unitarian Universalist Association
Santa Fe International Folk Art
Queensland University
Affordable housing institute MA
Lemelson Foundation UK
Micheal and Susan Dell Foundation
IDRC, New Delhi
Simavi, Netherlands
Holdeen India UU
American Embassy
Hunger project
One world action, London
Oxfam trust
Monsoon trust
COAIRD, Netherlands
International Labour Organization, Geneva
FNV
Streetnet international, Durban
Global Fund for Human Rights
Guest Foundation WA, USA 67465575
Loftf, Copernhagn
SAARC Secretariat, Nepal
American India Foundation
Food and Agriculture Organization, Italy
Education Development Centre, USA
Harvard University
Dan Morison, Washington DC
Swallow In Findland
Jacobs Foundationtreasury
World Bank
International Social Security Association, Philipines
IIED, UK
Homenet South Asia, Mouritius
Australian High Commission
The Rockefeller Foundation, NY
The Lemelson Foundation, Scotland – Oregon
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation – Texas
MacArthur Foundation, Illinois, USA
Master Card World Wide INC, purchase
Uniterian Universalist Association of Congragations, Washington
Ford Foundation
UDAP
World Bank
Coca Cola India
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Gemeinnutziges Bildungswer, Germany (Gemeinnütziges Bildungswerk)
Progetto Svilippo, Rome, Italy
Nordelbisches Frauenwerk, Northelbien Ev Luth Church, Germany (Evangelical CHURCH in Germany)
International Institute of Social Studies, New York
Learn Philiphines, Philiphines
Wiego Limited, Brazil
EDP Communication,, Canada
a st anne s generalate, Bangalore (Sisters of St. Anne of Bangalore (SAB)) CHURCH
The David Lucile Pakard Foundation, USA
Women in Informal Employment Globalisation and Organization, Machestor, UK
Simavi, Netherlands
Holdeen India UU
Hivos
US Ambassador’s Fund
The Huger Project
One World Action, Bradleys Close, White Lion Street, London
Monsoon Trust, London
FNV Netherlands
ITUC Asia Pacific, Singapur
World Earth Day, Washington DC
IFC, World bank USA
European Enviornmental Bureau, Brussels
Food Agric Org of UN, Italy
Loftf Council Vester Voldgade, Copenhagen
USAID, Washingto DC
Global Fund for Human Rights, Washington, USA
Gates Foundation – USA rural development
WIEGO, Harvard University, MA USA
Third point foundation, Washington DC
Shell Foundation, UK
Swallow in Findland
American Jewish World Services
Foundation Sommet Mondial des femmes, Switzerland
CLSA India Ltd, Mumbai
Ituc Asia Pacific, Singapur
Raj Desai, Washington DC individual
London School of Hygiene
Canadian Co-operative Association
Federative Nederlandse Vokdewging (FNV)
Rushho Kosei Kai, Japan
Rangoonwala Foundation, UK
Swiss Red Cross
SDC ICT, Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi
Banyan Tree Foundation, Washington
Solidaridad International, Spain
IUF, Switzerland
World bank
Pacific Asia Regional Congress
International Fund for Agriculture and Development, Rome, Italy
Tides Foundation
International Finance Corporation, USA
Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Tokyo
IUF, Geneva
American Federation, Washington DC
Stiching Mary Ellen Gerber, The Netherlands
Inka Consult Aps, Demnark
Fund for Global Human Rights, Washingto DC
AOA, Hirako Kowada
Asian Development Bank
BTC, USA
AG Destuge Bank, USA
FLE Poor Women
Agape Church (AMA) Arkansas, Little Rock, USA
Unitarian Universalist, for orphant
Holy Child Association, USA for orphans
Friends of Lakshmi Ashram, Denmark
Oxfam community aid abroad, Australia
Foundation Jean Scof Erigene, 2002 Neuchatel
PMO DFID, London
Rangoonwala Foundation
Mac Arthur Foundation
Ford Foundation
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Bernard Van Leer Foundation
ICMIS Funding, UK
Solidar ASBL, Belgium
Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi
Women Education Programme, Italy
Unitarian Universlist Association
Community aid abroad, Australia
Share and Care Foundation, New Jersey
Tides Foundation, NY
Asian Society, USA
Sterling Rice Group, USA
MD. Training SL, Spain
Common Wealth Education Fund, Longon
Fed. Inter Trav. Text Brusells, Belgium
Caveline Skinner USA
ITGW USA
GKPS Malaysia
Solidar ASBL, Belgium
WIEGO
USaid
Ford Foundation
Charities Aid Foundation USA
CORDAID, Netherlands
FNV Internationa, Netherlands
Homenet South Asia, Mouritius
Ituc Asia Pacific, Switzerland
Swiss Red Cross
IUF
World Bank
AMARC Montreal
Jacobs Foundationtreasury
Fund for Global Human Rights
Cheese Ant ragusa cassale of donna Fuggata, Italy
American Centre for Intc, USA
Institute of International Education, NY, USA
Streetnet International, Durban
Jean cily unit, hong kong
Iportant Gifts Inc, NY
Syed Norodan Ahmed USA
Gis Development, Kulalampur
Squarc Secretrial, Nepal
Inka Consult Aps, Denmark
WHO, Switzerland
Dasra. texas. USA
Mac Arthur Foundation, Chicago
Bernard Van Leer Foundation, Netherlands
Rangoonwala Foundation
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Building and Wood Workers Internationa, Geneva
DRM Spooner, UK
Monash University, Australia
ILO
ASML Foundation
Harvar
Offer Calicut, Kerala
Weigo
Ituc Asia Pacific, Singapur
Fedrich Ebert Stiffstung
Swiss Red Cross
Indian Collective Action, USA
America India Foundation
Josef Weiderkher, Switzerland
Food and Agriculture Organization, Italy
Saar Secretariate, Nepal,
FNV Netherlands
Loftf
FNV
World Bank
European Commission, UA
Global Fund for Human rights, USA
Dan Morison, Washington DC
Gates Foundation Rural Development
AMARC, Montreal
Asian University for Women Support Foundation, USA
Global Labour Unievrsity, Germany
Vital Voices for Global Partnership Inc Washington
Homenet South Asia, Mouritius
IIED UK
Education Development Centre INC, Massachusetts
Rouge Federal Credit Union, Medford USA
Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, Berlin
Foundation Jeans scot Erigene, Bale
MacArthur Foundation, Illiois USA
Progetto Svilippo, Rome, Italy
Microsoft Corporation(India) Pvt Ltd
Community Aid Abroad, Australia
UUA of Congregation Holdeen, Washingto DC
Women’s World Banking
Simon Fraser University, Canada
Simavi, Netherlands
Women in informal employment globalisation and organization, UK
IDRC, New Delhi
One world action, London HK
Monsoon Trust, London
Holdeen India UU, Washington
The Lemelson Foundation
Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
Rabobank Foundation Netherland
Cordaid, Netherlands
United Way World Wide New Zealand
M and S Dell Foundation

Some quick notes:

Elaben Bhatt and her daughter-in-law Reema Nanavati look after SEWA and its branch organizations.

Renana Jhabwala – wife of former Media Advisor of the Indian Prime Minister and former Resident Editor of The Hindu Shri Harish Khare looks after Sewa Bharat.

Does Sewa take foreign money from Christian religious organizations for its activities?

Yes, Washington DC based Holdeen India UU, Washington or UUA of Congregation Holdeen or Uniterian Universalist Association of Congragations, Washington is one of the top donors of Sewa organizations. Christian father who heads this organization visited Sewa in Gujarat in recent past and also visited salt workers in little Rann of Kutch.

Nordelbisches Frauenwerk, Northelbien Ev Luth Church, Germany is Evangelical Church organization of Germany that donated to one of the Sewa organizations. A St Anne s Generalate, Bangalore (Sisters of St. Anne of Bangalore) is one more church organization that donated foreign money to one of the SEWA organizations. But I must add that unlike some other NGOs, Christian religious organizations are not the dominant donors in this case.

Another point to note is that, SEWA enjoys excellent backing of American government organizations. In his book ‘Breaking India’ author Rajiv Malhotra has used a word ‘sepoy’ for those people/organizations working in India like ‘sepoy’ of foreign counrty. Here is the case of American ‘sepoy’ in India in that context.

Earlier a simple organization, SEWA has for last few years started hiring some of the costliest public relation firms to call and manage the press conferences.

When fund utilization was questioned

In 2004, I covered a press conference of Indian Postal Service’s Gujarat circle Director of Gujarat circle Shri Anurag Priyadarshi. Later for special stories, I met him couple of times more. After a year, when I was doing another story on postal department, I found that Shri Priyadarshi was transferred as Project Coordinator for Jeevika programme of SEWA(Self Employeed Women Association). To seek his guidance for my postal story, I visited Shri Priyadarshi at his flat near Doctor House in Amdavad. In formal chit chat, we discussed his assignment at SEWA. Shri Priyadarshi opened up and spoke to me in detail about irregularities in fund utilization by SEWA he uncovered and reported to the state government. Later on the basis of Priyadarshi’s report, the Gujarat government discontinued Jiveeka project with SEWA. I remember, Shri Bharatbhai Barot was minister of Rural Development department at that time, and once we had brief talk on this.

Then Chief Secretary Shri Sudhir Mankad’s observations on Jeevika project and SEWA are available here in this document or more here.

Beyond core activity

In year 2011, Wikileaks leaked year 2005 cable of then American envoy to India Michael Owen, on his Gujarat visit. Following are the paras that mention SEWA in that cable. As per this cable, SEWA gave communal angle to Jeevika project issue.

The general secretary of SEWA, a large and well-respected union and self-help organization for poor women, claimed that the GOG was hoping to use the group’s reach and extensive membership as a conduit to disseminate communal ideologies. SEWA was resisting fiercely, the CG(Consul General) was told, and feeling the wrath of the GOG as a result.

The CG visited the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), a highly respected trade union and self-help organization with over 500,000 members throughout Gujarat. Reemaben Nanawati, SEWA General Secretary, told the CG that any communal harmony projected by political leaders(in Gujarat) was only superficial. The Government of Gujarat(GOG) was trying to project normality, but politically the government was using communal animosities to “”divide and rule”” the state’s many communal, caste and tribal groups. The state government was obstructing the activities of SEWA in the remote area of Kutchch in northwestern Gujarat, Nanawati said. The GOG was withholding grants for state projects being implemented by SEWA in the region, she said, ostensibly over financial irregularities. In reality, the GOG was interested in using SEWA’s reach and vast membership as a conduit for its communal ideologies, Nanawati claimed. SEWA was resisting fiercely, since communal harmony among its members was an important factor for its success, she said. The resistance was making the GOG more vindictive and causing it to step up its pressure on the organization, she added. Due to lack of funds over 12,000 extremely poor SEWA members have not received wages for over five months, Nanawati claimed.

Barring few occasions, SEWA has been a silent organization. Contrary to huge donation it gets, it works in low profile manner in Gujarat. Unlike other foreign funded left-leaning vocal organizations, SEWA is busy in its own world, and hardly jump in to giving political opinion. Activities of SEWA however need watch, as 140 crore is not a small sum. If such a big amount of money come regularly from foreign land, for any purpose, it is a matter of concern. Intelligence agencies in India have already put Ford Foundation grants in grey area according to reports.

Last article in this series: Justice RA Mehta as Trustee, foreign funding details of IDEAL/CSJ

Next article: AIDMI:Crorepati NGO of SEWA fame Elaben Bhatt’s son