Ruma Devi Kumawat

Dr. Ruma Devi is an Indian traditional handicraft designer, social worker and global speaker from Barmer, Rajasthan. She is President of Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS) and Director of the Ruma Devi Foundation, organisations working towards women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods and craft revival in India. Having trained and supported 50,000 women artisans across the Thar region, she currently acts as Brand Ambassador of RAJEEVIKA (Rajasthan Livelihoods Mission) under the Government of Rajasthan.

Ruma Devi received the “Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018”, India’s highest civilian honour for women, in recognition of her contribution to women’s empowerment and rural enterprise development. She has also been invited by institutions such as Harvard University to speak on women’s entrepreneurship and artisan livelihoods.

Through her organisations, she has led initiatives that integrate skill development, design innovation and market linkages for rural artisans, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. She has also promoted access to education through the Akshara Scholarship Programme which supports under-privileged students to pursue higher education.

Her work has been widely recognised for contributing to grassroots social empowerment in western Rajasthan, particularly in enhancing women’s financial inclusion, decision-making and participation in community development.

Early and personal life Ruma Devi was born in 1988 and grew up in Rawatsar in Barmer, Rajasthan. She dropped out of school when she was in 8th class. She learned embroidery from her grandmother during her childhood. She got married at the age of 17 and lost her first son in 48 hours of his birth.

Social work and activism Ruma Devi’s social work programmes in education, health, women’s hygiene, infrastructure, and cultural preservation. Key initiatives include:

Akshara Scholarship: Financial aid and mentorship provided annually to rural students, especially girls, to support academic and professional development. She has also led educational interventions, pushing for girl child education and organising scholarships to reduce barriers for girls, especially school dropouts.

Career She started to do some work for earning. She started a self-help group after managing to convince about 10 women from her village in 2006. With a contribution of Rs 100 from each woman, they bought second-hand stitching machine, cloth, threads and plastic wrappers for making cushions and bags.

Her quest for success took her to the doorstep of Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan in Barmer and she joined it as a member in 2008 and went on to become the president of the non-governmental organization in 2010. She did her first exhibition in Rafi Marg, Delhi in 2010 and her first fashion show in Rajasthan Heritage Week 2016. She is now working towards promoting the craft of tribal artisans and minorities of all over India to get their craft and hands behind craft recognized.

Awards and honors

Nari Shakti Puraskar (2018) presented by the President of India Sh.Ramnath Kovind. Shared stage with Amitabh Bachchan and Sonakshi Sinha on Kon Banega Crorepati Show (20 September 2019). Invited by Harvard University, Boston, U.S. as a panelist in its 17th all India conference (15-16 February 2020). Featured in Khaleej Times, Dubai Featured at Indian singing reality show 'Indian Idol' in the special episode of Women's day (10 July 2021). Won the title of 'TFI Designer of the year 2019'. Featured on the cover page of India Today magazine in its anniversary edition with the title 'The New Bharat' in 2018. State Brand Ambassador, Rajeevika