Shri Vanlaxmi Mahila Sewa Tree Grower’s Cooperative Ganeshpura
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SEWA Ecotourism Center


SEWA Ecotourism is committed to promoting eco-friendly tourism, while supporting the local communities and preserving the natural environment. Our center is located in Ganeshpura, a serene and picturesque village in the heart of India. The land on which our center is located was granted to us by the panchayat on a lease for 30 years. Our center is the result of the hard work of women members of Shri Vanlaxmi Mahila Sewa Tree Grower’s Cooperative, who have dedicated themselves to creating a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.
At SEWA Ecotourism, we believe in responsible tourism that benefits both the environment and the community. We offer a range of activities and experiences that allow our guests to immerse themselves in the local culture and environment, while contributing to the livelihoods of the local community. Join us for a unique and unforgettable experience!

  
 
 

History of Vanalaxmi Mandali

In the tranquil village of Ganeshpura, nestled within the heart of the Mehsana district, a remarkable story of resilience and transformation unfolds. Here, 41 tenacious women, once laboring on the lands of others and wealthy farmers, had neither land nor a steady source of income. Their toil, yielding just Rs. 2000 annually for ten days of labor each month, painted a stark picture of their past. Today, they achieve the same income in just one month. This is the extraordinary journey of the Shri Vanlaxmi Mahila Sewa Tree Grower's Cooperative.

In 1986, SEWA, an organization dedicated to empowering women in agriculture, initiated its operations in the Mehsana district. Conversations with these remarkable women revealed the stark challenges they faced: sustaining their families, educating their children, and securing a reliable income. Lacking land ownership, they couldn't even raise cattle. They relied on sporadic work during agricultural harvests, leaving them idle for most of the month, hindering their ability to care for their families and provide quality education.

    





One pivotal meeting sparked hope. SEWA inquired about unused, unirrigated land in the village, which these women confirmed. This led to a proposal to the village panchayat, securing a 30-year lease on 10 barren acres in 1989. Undeterred by challenges, they undertook the Herculean task of landscaping, bravely confronting venomous creatures while leveling the land and planting trees.

Water scarcity loomed large, compelling them to construct a 10-foot-deep plastic pond using knowledge from the Indian Petroleum Company Limited (I.P.C.L). They divided the land for seasonal crops and received essential tools from the Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited (HPCL). A borewell, built-in 1988-89, enabled two harvests a year, with one-third of the earnings distributed to each member. With guidance from the Gujarat Agricultural University's Jagudan Center, scientific techniques transformed their cooperative into a beacon of self-sufficiency.

Thus, the Shri Vanlaxmi Mahila Sewa Tree Grower's Cooperative emerged, blazing a trail toward self-sustainability and a brighter future for these resilient women.

  


  About SEWA

We belong to the vast, unprotected working population of our country, who are considered informal workers. Although we constitute 93% of India’s labor force, few labor laws or social protection include us. Our significant contribution to the nation’s economy is largely uncounted, undercounted, or invisible.

We formed SEWA in 1972, in Ahmedabad. Today we are 2.5 million women strong. We are the single largest women worker’s Central trade union in India. At SEWA, we come together as poor, as women, and as workers. The SEWA approach is to address the needs of the worker as a laborer, as well as a woman. This integrated and holistic view of workers has given birth to new and innovative ways to fight poverty and vulnerability.

Our goals are full employment and self-reliance.