Ruma Devi

Ruma Devi
Born	(1988-11-16) 16 November 1988 (age 36) Rawatsar
Education	Honored with an honorary doctorate degree
Occupation	Social Activist
Spouse	Tiku Ram ​ (m. 2005)​
Awards	Nari Shakti Puraskar (2019)
Website	www.rumadevi.com

Ruma Devi

Ruma Devi (born1988) is an Indian social activist^[1], Global Speaker and grassroots change maker^[2]from Barmer, Rajasthan ^[3] Internationally recognised for her work in women's empowerment, Education^[4] gender equality^[5] , sustainable livelihoods, and the preservation of folk traditions and craft revival^[6].

Currently she is the brand ambassador of Rajeevika leading over 5 million women in Rajasthan^[7]. She has trained and mobilised over 50,000 rural women artisans in Thar desert. Has been invited and honoured to prestigious forums across the globe such as Harvard University^[8].

Ruma Devi received the “Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018”, the highest civilian honour for Women in India. She is associated with a network of over 50,000 rural women^[8], trained them and linked them to the livelihood.

Focusing on women’s economic empowerment and girls’ education, her initiatives have strengthened livelihoods and increased women’s morale across the Thar region^[9].

Early and personal life

Ruma Devi was born in a remote desert village Rawatsar (Hindi: रावतसर, IPA: [raːʋəʈsər]) in Barmer district, Rajasthan, into an economically disadvantaged family. She lost her mother at the age of four and left school after Class 8 due to poverty. Raised largely by her grandmother, she learned embroidery from her at an early age. Married at 17, she faced personal tragedy when her first child died in 48 hours of his birth owing to lack of medical care.^[10]

Despite these hardships, she later completed her secondary education through the National Institute of Open Schooling in 2016. These early struggles shaped her commitment to women’s rights, education, and livelihood security.^[11]

Career

Beginnings (2006 - 2008)

In 2006, Ruma Devi and 10 village women each contributed ₹100 to purchase a second-hand sewing machine. Together they began stitching bags and cushions, marking the start of her journey in community livelihood generation.^[12]

Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan(2008- Present)

Ruma Devi joined Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS), a grassroots NGO in Barmer, in 2008 and became its President in 2010. GVCS expanded from a local initiative into a multi-village movement, training thousands of women in stitching, embroidery, design, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship through self-help groups (SHGs).^[13]

Expansion and Recognition (2010-2020)

By the late 2010s, her work had drawn international attention. She showcased collections at London Graduate Fashion Week (2018), Colombo Fashion Week, HeimTextile Fair, Frankfurt, and craft exhibitions in the USA, UK, Germany, Dubai, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.^[10]

Ruma Devi Foundation(2021-Present)

In 2021, she established the Ruma Devi Foundation to expand her work nationally and internationally. The foundation promotes skill development, craft revival, education, and women-led entrepreneurship, and has launched large-scale programs such as the Akshara Scholarship, Vani Utsav, Raksha Yojana, and the Sugani Devi Sports Complex for rural girls.^{[4][14][15][16]}

Awards and honours

• Honoured by India's highest civilian award for women by Ministry of Women and Child Development 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' presented by The President of India- Sh. Ramnath Kovind on 8th March 2019. ^[8]
• Shared stage with Amitabh Bachchan and Sonakshi Sinha on Kon Banega Crorepati Show (20 September 2019).^[17][18]
• Invited by Harvard University, Boston, U.S., as a panellist in its 17th all-India conference (15-16 February 2020).^[19]
• Featured in Khaleej Times, Dubai ^[20]
• Featured at Indian singing reality show 'Indian Idol' in the special episode of Women's day (10 July 2021).^[21][22]
• Won the title of 'TFI Designer of the year 2019'.^[23][24]
• Featured on the cover page of India Today magazine in its anniversary edition with the title 'The New Bharat' in 2018.^[25]
• Goodwill Ambassador and Chief Designer of Tribes India.^[26]
• State Brand Ambassador, Rajeevika. ^[4][7]
• Honoured with a Doctorate in the field of art & textile by Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule University, Jaipur.
• Shilpa Abhimani Award by the Govt of Sri Lanka: Promotion of handicrafts
• Honour by Women on Wings Netherlands (2016)
• The 51 Most Impactful Social Innovators Award (2019), presented by the World CSR Congress.

Major Initiatives

Ruma Devi has led extensive initiatives across multiple sectors of rural development. In the field of skill development, she has trained over 50,000 women in appliqué, embroidery, tailoring, design, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship, helping them transition from subsistence work to sustainable livelihoods.^[27]

Through education and scholarship programs, the Akshara Scholarship provides ₹25 lakh to 30 lakh annually to support rural students, athletes, and artists, with cumulative assistance exceeding ₹3 crore. The Raksha Yojana complements this by depositing funds into Sukanya Samriddhi accounts for newborn girls, encouraging gender equality and financial security for their education.^[4]

In craft revival and fashion, she has revived traditional Dhabla weaving and the devotional art of Vani Gayan. She has organized fashion shows in which rural artisans walked the ramp with their own collections and collaborated with renowned designers such as Bibi Russell, Anita Dongre, and Hemant Trivedi, bringing desert crafts to global platforms.^[28][13]

Her contributions also extend to public health and relief work. She has organised free eye camps benefiting over 30,000 villagers, distributed solar lamps in remote households, and led a ₹3.5 crore COVID-19 relief effort that provided oxygen, medicines, and essential supplies.^[29][30]

In the sphere of cultural preservation, she founded Vanee Utsav and Rumayana Rangotsav^[31] and supported events such as the Rajasthan Kabir Yatra^[32] and the Times of India Literature Festival to promote the verses of saint-poets like Kabir, Meera, Tulsi, and Dadu. She has also supported the preservation of folk music traditions such as Harjas songs through artist patronage, digital archiving, and public performances.

For infrastructure development, she established modern craft centers with washing, packaging, training, and quality-control facilities to strengthen artisan supply chains. She is also developing the Sugani Devi Multi-Sports Complex in Barmer, a ₹10 crore initiative aimed at providing world-class sporting opportunities for rural girls.^[14]

Global Representation

Ruma Devi has addressed over hundred forums worldwide, including the India Conference at Harvard University (2020)^[6]. Her work was acknowledged in the British Parliament on International Women’s Day (2019). She represented India at the India Day Parade in New York. Honoured on " women empowerment in new India" event organised by Indian Consulate NY ^[12]

Her work has been profiled by leading Indian and international outlets, including the BBC, The Indian Express^[9], Khaleej Times Dubai^[29], and India Today^[13]. She has also been featured in international publications such as the British Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (UK), Tabizuru (Japan)^[33]. In addition, she has been recognised by Women on Wings Netherlands^[34].