The Hindu : National : SEWA to keep off Gujarat Government projects

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Saturday, Oct 08, 2005

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National

SEWA to keep off Gujarat Government projects

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) on Friday announced its decision to dissociate itself from the Gujarat Government-sponsored projects citing inability to work with the "present set-up''. The association had been accused of "misappropriation and diversion of funds'' by the State Government, which has also ordered a special audit of the organisation and stopped funds for the past 11 months.

"We have no doubt that the Gujarat Government is out to break SEWA, an organisation of the poor women where people of all castes and communities work together in harmony and believe in Gandhian values. The Gujarat Government is out to destroy our credibility, solidarity and reputation,'' Ela R. Bhatt, founder of the association, told reporters here.

According to her, things were fine until Keshubhai Patel was at the helm of affairs in Gujarat and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee the Prime Minister. "It has become impossible to work as partners with the present dispensation,'' she said.

"Most unjust"

Describing as "most unjust'' the stoppage of employment to about 40,000 households involved in Jeevika and another 1 lakh women in other ongoing projects with the State Government, Ms. Bhatt said she felt distressed that the Government had stopped the flow of funds to which poor, rural women were entitled for employment and their development.

Seeking an audit of the funds by an independent auditor, SEWA members met Union Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram here on Thursday and asked him to intervene in the matter.

Project for quake victims

The Centre, the State, SEWA and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) had signed the seven-year Jeevika project for the earthquake victims of Gujarat in 2002. Over the past few months, the State Government has not only stopped funds but also asked SEWA to return the money of other approved projects for which it received the money. The accounts of these projects have already been submitted to the Government.

The decision to withdraw from 20 State Government projects would affect about 1.5 lakh SEWA members. The projects included those of rural development, health, childcare, water, employment and capacity building.

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