Ruma Devi, born in Barmer, Rajasthan in 1988, overcame early hardships including losing her mother at five, dropping out of school in eighth grade, and marrying at 17 to rewrite her destiny. She learned embroidery from her grandmother, and in 2006 formed a self-help group of ten local women, pooling ₹100 each to buy basic materials and a sewing machine.

Starting with handmade bags and cushions, Ruma and her peers began selling within their village. By 2008, she joined Gramin Vikas Evam Chetna Sansthan (GVCS) and became its president in 2010. Under her leadership, GVCS trained and employed women across 75 villages empowering over 22,000 artisans and transforming local handicrafts into a sustainable livelihood model.

Her designs earned stage time at Rajasthan Heritage Week, exhibitions in Delhi, and even international showcases including fashion weeks in London, Germany, and Singapore. Recognized with the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018, she has since spoken at Harvard and received national acclaim as a driving force behind rural women’s economic independence.

More than textiles, Ruma Devi’s impact lies in breaking caste and gender barriers, promoting dignity, and proving that education isn’t the only path to empowerment. By turning traditional craft into modern opportunity, she continues inspiring countless women to forge their own future.