Micro-financing has taken off in a big way and is no longer a 'micro' business. Organizations like Kiva pioneered this concept on a global scale. Now, in India, Ella Bhatt has helped a social revolution through SEWA.

Sewa finances women who make Agarbattis (incense sticks), bangles, kites, bidis or sell vegetables, recycle paper etc. These are small enterprises which go a long way in making the women economically independant.

Some of the non-traditional business for women funded by women is Petrol Pumps (Gas Stations). 

SEWA has 10 lakh members all over India (but mostly in Gujurat and Madhya Pradesh) who are dependant on it to provide financial services including loan for capital to start a business. 60% of its members are based in rural areas.
It has a depositer base of 3.5 lakh customers. SEWA boasts a 97% repayment rate.

Ella's work has got the attention of New York Times which ran a news story, Guiding Women with a Gandhian approach, on the work done by Ella and SEWA.