Current Affairs

SEWA Director Reema Nanavaty receives the 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award

16-10-2026 · English

SEWA Director Reema Nanavaty receives the 2026 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award

Topics: Awards, International & Important Day · 16 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Reema Nanavaty, Director of the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), received the 'Hillary Rodham Clinton Award' of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) on 15 Oct 2026 at Gaston Hall, Georgetown University, Washington; Hillary Clinton presented it. It honours her work for the economic empowerment, livelihoods and resilience of informal women workers. 2026 theme: 'Women's Economic Empowerment: A Key for Peace and Security'. Tory Burch and Muhammad Yunus were the other 2026 awardees.

Key facts

AwardHillary Rodham Clinton Award 2026 – GIWPS, Georgetown University
Date/venue15 Oct 2026 – Gaston Hall, Washington
ThemeWomen's Economic Empowerment: A Key for Peace and Security
Co-awardeesTory Burch (Tory Burch Foundation); Muhammad Yunus (Grameen Bank founder)
Reema NanavatyBorn 1964, Ahmedabad; joined SEWA in 1985; Padma Shri 2013
SEWA1972, Ahmedabad – founder Ela Bhatt

Background

  • Reema Nanavaty: postgraduate in microbiology. She led SEWA's food security programme (one million households), the 'Hariyali' green energy and livelihoods initiative, and Gujarat earthquake rehabilitation. When FAO's Jacques Diouf Award (2013) was given to SEWA, she received it on the organisation's behalf.
  • SEWA: a trade union of informal women workers founded in 1972 in Ahmedabad by Ela Bhatt (1933–2022). Ela Bhatt – Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977), Padma Shri (1985), Padma Bhushan (1986).
  • Economy: most Indian women workers are in the informal sector; self-help groups (SHGs), microcredit and cooperatives drive their empowerment – SDG 5 (gender equality).
  • GIWPS: research institute on women, peace and security. The 2025 awards honoured 'Women Safeguarding Democracy'.

Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu pioneered the women's SHG movement – the SHG approach began in 1989 in Dharmapuri district with IFAD support; after its success, 'Mahalir Thittam' was extended to all districts with State funding from 1997-98. It is implemented by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW, 1983).

Source: GIWPS event page; Deccan Herald, The Federal (15 Oct 2026); Bombay Samachar (16 Oct 2026)

Join our UPSC classroom or online batch: UPSC coaching in Coimbatore · Fees · Call 99941 46662.

Share with friends & study groups
Link to this page from your website / blog (HTML code)
More news from the same day
› CM Vijay opens 'Periyar Arivulagam' library and science centre in Coimbatore › Neyveli and Tiruchi badlands are Mars-analogue sites – University of Kerala scientists › Cotton Revival Mission in Tamil Nadu – ₹26.21 crore sanctioned for 2026–27; Minister R. Vinoth urges farmers to benefit › Chandigarh's Sukhna wetland and UP's Sauj Jheel (Mainpuri) take India's Ramsar sites from 101 to 103; Tamil Nadu (20) tops › MoD signs ₹4,106-crore contracts – 'Varunastra' anti-submarine torpedoes for Navy, GSAT-7C satellite for IAF › Dr Sudha Yadav sworn in as Governor of Karnataka – the State's second woman Governor › Clean hydrogen: India ranks 3rd in the world in cumulative contracted volumes – BNEF 'India Transition Factbook 2026' › HAL-built ALH MK-III helicopter (CG 875) inducted into 831 Squadron at Coast Guard Air Station Ratnagiri All current affairs →

BANK Achievers

  • M. NANDHINI

    BANK BANK