Clinton is no stranger to SEWA, its activities or its activists. In fact, she had first visited the SEWA headquarters, Ahmedabad in 1995 as the US First Lady.

Nanavaty said that over 200 women activists, at Clinton's suggestion, formed the Women & Global Markets to establish a link between the underprivileged and the world market players. It works in the field of textiles and garments, and agriculture, she said.

As part of the initiative, the WGM has also worked with farmers in Africa and Mexico. 'It is quite surprising, but women who made a significant contribution to agriculture, are hardly recognised as farmers,' Nanavaty said.

This would be the third interaction between Clinton and SEWA volunteers, earlier they had met her in New York and keep giving her regular updates on SEWA activities.

As part of its activities, SEWA runs a women's bank, housing and social security schemes and takes up the causes of the people living and working in the lowest strata of society.