She was honoured by the Government of India, in 2013, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her contributions to the field of social service.

[2] If the villagers of Gokhantar, in the arid deserts of western Gujarat state have a supply of sweet water today, they have their womenfolk to thank for it says Reema Nanavaty.

[5] Nanavaty is the daughter-in-law Ela Bhatt, a renowned women's empowerment activist, Padma Bhushan winner and the founder of SEWA.

She pursued a master's in microbiology with Medical Laboratory Technician training and graduated in Science from the Gujarat University.

[1][8] In 1985 she joined the rural wing of SEWA Self-Employed Women's Association of India, an NGO founded by Ela Bhatt, a Gandhian and social worker.

[11] She is married to Mihir Bhatt, an Architect and Urban Planner and Founder of All India Disaster Mitigation Institute.