Reema Nanavaty, Executive Director, Self Employed Women’s Association

Reema Nanavatyleads Self Employed Women’s Association’s (SEWA) economic and rural development activities reaching out to seventeen million women and their families across India.

Since 1989 she has pioneered revival, restoration and innovation of rural livelihoods from district to global level. Reema is being recognized across India and in the neighbouring countries as a champion of making livelihoods of the poor women reach markets they deserve. May they be women artisans, salt pan workers, farmers, or labourers, she has made efforts over two decades to mainstream amazing diversity of skills and knowledge of India’s citizens into the national mainstream. Her effort has created a more dynamic local economy and fairer and equal society for thousands of SEWA sisters, citizens of India.

Born on May 22, 1964 in Ahmedabad, Reema graduated in science from Gujarat University and was selected to IAS services of Government of India.