Welcome to the SEWA ni Awaaz (Voices of SEWA) —a journey into the stories of resilience, transformation, and leadership at the heart of the Indian informal economy. This series celebrates the extraordinary women leaders nurtured within their communities, now leading their cooperatives and collectives while empowering more women around them. In this very first episode, we are stoked to have Yasminben, State Health Coordinator of Lok Swasthya SEWA Trust (SEWA Health) in Gujarat. She shares her journey of being nurtured into leadership, the importance of enabling environments for young grassroots women leaders, and her vision for the future of women in the informal economy. Under her leadership Lok Swasthya SEWA Trust has introduced Health Passports built on the Algorand Blockchain. Stay tuned as we dive into Yasminben's insights, struggles, and successes.

The recent global health crises, the impending climate crises, global economic instability and recession, highlights the loopholes in our existing understanding of the economy and the current development paradigm. Yet, what is the alternative? On April 18, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution “Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development”. Simel Esim, a political - economist who Heads the Cooperatives Unit at the International Labour Organisation, better explains the SSE, role of the ILO and why it is the best alternative.

Welcome to Episode 11 of "In Solidarity" with Dr. Padmini Ray Murray. Dr. Padmini comes from a background in design and technology, with a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. She is the founder of Design Beku, a feminist collective dedicated to making approaches to design and technology more locally rooted, contextual and ethical.

In this episode, we delve into the barriers to digital inclusion, especially for the marginalized sections like women and people with disabilities. We explore how access and ownership—or the lack thereof—pose significant challenges, not just in terms of owning a smartphone but also in how technology itself is designed. As we navigate a world where even social protection programs like Aadhar are digitally delivered, the urgency of making technology more inclusive through diverse design solutions cannot be overstated. Join us as we unpack these critical issues and discuss ways to create more inclusive tech solutions with Dr. Padmini.