India (Commonwealth Union)_ India has another reason to feel proud as social worker Reema Nanavaty has received the prestigious Hillary Rodham Clinton Award in the United States for her contribution to peace, security and women’s empowerment. Her decades of work supporting women and vulnerable communities have earned her international recognition. Nanavaty, director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) of India, received the award from former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at an event organised by Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
Founded in 1972 by Ela Bhatt, SEWA is a trade union that represents women working in India’s informal economy. Under Nanavaty’s leadership, the organisation has grown into the country’s largest union of informal-sector workers, helping women build stronger livelihoods and become financially independent. Her work focuses on creating opportunities for women through businesses owned and managed by them. SEWA supports women-led activities across several sectors, including agriculture, renewable energy, food processing, textile production and waste recycling. These initiatives help women earn a steady income and play a greater role in their communities.
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Nanavaty has also played an important role in helping women rebuild their lives after disasters and conflicts. Her efforts include livelihood recovery programmes for rural women affected by earthquakes, as well as rehabilitation initiatives in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Another major part of her work is food security. She launched a SEWA program reaching one million households to help vulnerable families improve access to essential food supplies. She also heads the Hariyali Green Energy and Livelihoods Initiative to increase women’s access to renewable energy while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. The award organizers say that Nanavaty’s work demonstrates how financially empowering women can lead to stronger communities and a more stable and prosperous future for all.
Nanavaty’s achievements have also received recognition in India. In 2013, she was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of her contributions. Other recipients of the 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award include fashion designer Tory Burch, founder of the Tory Burch Foundation, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and former chief adviser to Bangladesh’s government. Presented by Clinton and Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the award honours inspiring leaders who champion women’s rights and work towards creating a safer, more peaceful world for everyone. Nanavaty’s honour highlights how years of dedicated social work can create lasting change and improve the lives of women across communities.
