Ruma Devi Explained

Ruma Devi
Birth Date:	16 November 1988
Birth Place:	Rawatsar
Education:	8th class (dropout)
Awards:	Nari Shakti Puraskar (2019)
Occupation:	Fashion designer

Ruma Devi (born 16 November 1988), is an Indian social worker and fashion designer-traditional handicraft artist from Barmer, Rajasthan.^[1] Ruma devi received the “Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018” the highest civilian honour for Women in India. She is associated with a network of over 30,000 rural women,^[2] trained them and linked them to the livelihood.

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Her quest for success took her to the doorstep of Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan in Barmer^[6] and she joined it as a member in 2008 and went on to become the president of the non-governmental organization in 2010.^[7] She did her first exhibition in Rafi Marg, Delhi in 2010 and her first fashion show in Rajasthan Heritage Week 2016.^[8] 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.^[9]

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).^{[10] [11]}
• Invited by Harvard University, Boston, U.S. as a panelist in its 17th all India conference (15-16 February 2020).^[12]
• Featured in Khaleej Times, Dubai ^[13]
• Featured at Indian singing reality show 'Indian Idol' in the special episode of Women's day (10 July 2021).^{[14] [15]}
• Won the title of 'TFI Designer of the year 2019'.^{[16] [17]}
• Featured on the cover page of India Today magazine in its anniversary edition with the title 'The New Bharat' in 2018.^[18]
• Goodwill Ambassador and Chief Designer of Tribes India.^[19]
• State Brand Ambassador, Rajeevika^{[20] [21]}
• Honored by 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)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ruma Devi WEF Women Economic Forum. WEF. 5 March 2019. en-US. 2020-02-15.
2. Web site: Raja . Vidya . 2022-07-25 . Harvard Invited This School Dropout From Barmer for Empowering 30,000 Women . 2022-10-10 . The Better India . en-US.
3. News: 2019-02-26 . Ruma Devi: From school dropout to changing fortunes of 22,000 women . The Times of India . 2023-07-16 . 0971-8257.
4. News: Ruma Devi and her motifs of change. Roytalukdar. Rakhee. @businessline. 30 August 2019 . en. 2020-02-15.
5. Web site: February 26, 2019. Shoeb. Khan. Ruma Devi: From school dropout to changing fortunes of 22,000 women. 2020-07-15. The Times of India. en.
6. Web site: A Stitch in Time The Social Warriors . 2022-10-10 . India Today . en.
7. Web site: Rajasthan: Married off at 17, Ruma Devi is now guardian angel for over 20,000 women. 2020-07-15. ANI News. en.
8. Web site: 2019-08-30 . Ruma Devi and her Barmeri motifs of change . 2023-07-16 . www.thehindubusinessline.com . en.
9. Web site: ruma devi Hindi News and Today's Trending Topics with ruma devi Latest Photos and Videos. 2020-07-15. Dainik Bhaskar. hi.
10. News: Inter-Asian News Service. 2019-09-21. Amitabh Bachchan bemused at Sonakshi Sinha over 'KBC' gaffe. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-07-15. 0971-751X.
11. Web site: केबीसी 11: आर्थिक तंगी से हुई थी बच्चे की मौत, बाद में ऐसे बदल दी 22 हजार महिलाओं की किस्मत. 2020-07-15. Amar Ujala. hi.
12. Web site: 2020-02-12. February 13, 2020. 2020-07-15. Office for Student Affairs. en-us.
13. Web site: A school dropout who made it to Harvard: The story of artisan Ruma Devi .
14. Web site: इंडियन आइडल शो में दिखेगी बाड़मेर की रूमा देवी: लेडीज स्पेशल एपिसोड में होगी गेस्ट, बुधवार को शूट पूरा हुआ, शनिवार को होगा टेलीकास्ट, अनु मलिक बोले: सेट पर आना हमारे लिए गौरव. 8 July 2021. Dainik Bhaskar.
15. Web site: Indian Idol 12: अरुणिता कांजीलाल को नारी शक्ति पुरस्कार से सम्मानित रूमा देवी ने दिया खास तोहफा. 10 July 2021.
16. Web site: Sheikh. Sajid. 2019-07-18. फैशन के सतरंगी रैंप पर बाड़मेर की रूमा का ब्लैक एंड व्हाइट कलेक्शन छाया, जीता डिजाइनर ऑफ दी ईयर अवाॅर्ड. 2020-07-15. Dainik Bhaskar. hi.
17. Web site: Sustainable fashion forward. 2020-07-15. The New Indian Express.
18. Web site: December 23, 2018. Rohit. Parihar. A Stitch in Time The Social Warriors. 2020-07-15. India Today. en.
19. Web site: 2019-11-26. आदि महोत्सव में छाया बाड़मेर की रूमा देवी का कलेक्शन, ट्राइब्स इंडिया ने बनाया 'गुड विल एंबेसडर'. 2020-07-15. Zee News Hindi.
20. News: Iqbal . Mohammed . 2021-12-17 . ₹2,400-crore shot in the arm for women’s SHGs . 2024-05-23 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
21. Web site: Ruma Devi Barmer : रूमा देवी बनीं Rajeevika ब्रांड एंबेसडर, अब बदलेंगीं 20 लाख महिलाओं की तकदीर . 14 December 2021 .