Ela Bhatt Selected for 2011 Indira Gandhi Prize

 Well-known social activist Ela Bhatt has been selected for the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2011 for her lifetime achievements in empowering women through grassroots entrepreneurship.    

She was selected for the award constituted by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust by an international jury headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Announcing the award, Trust Secretary Suman Dubey said Bhatt”s life is a lesson in dedication and commitment, in caring for the under-privileged and weak, in devoting oneself to the welfare of others, in living by principles and making a difference to the lives of millions.     

Bhatt has been selected for the award for her “lifetime achievements in comprehensively empowering women in India and elsewhere through grassroots entrepreneurship, access to shelter, healthcare, micro-finance, micro-insurance, skills, legal services, collective bargaining power and many other means, and thereby promoting equitable development and peace, following Gandhian path of self reliance and non-violence”, he said.Bhatt is the founder of  Self-Employed Women”s Association (SEWA).