RUMA ROKA (Founder & General Secretary of NDS)

Ruma Roka, a beacon of inspiration and change, embodies a lifetime commitment to empowering the Deaf community. Graduating from Delhi Public School, R.K Puram, Delhi, in 1980, she pursued her passion for travel and tourism, earning a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University, in 1983.

Driven by a deeply altruistic vision, Ruma began her journey in 2004 by learning Indian Sign Language from the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, with the aim of creating meaningful change in the lives of marginalized Deaf individuals. In 2005, she founded Noida Deaf Society (NDS) as its sole founder, starting with just five students and serving as the sole trainer.

Under her leadership, NDS developed an accessible school for Deaf children, scaling from nursery to senior secondary (Class 12), and is now an accredited centre of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Ruma has been instrumental in mobilizing Deaf children and youth from underserved regions across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. Under her leadership, NDS has expanded to 6 training centres and multiple outreach centres, impacting over 90,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, including students, parents, educators, and corporate stakeholders across India. Through her work, Ruma has played a transformative role in strengthening the Deaf community and has extended critical support to families of Deaf children, empowering them with awareness, access to education, and a sense of inclusion and hope.

She pioneered a visual learning ecosystem and content for SHI individuals—among the first in India—and introduced vocational training in Indian Sign Language, making skill development accessible and inclusive.

Ruma has consistently invested in leadership development within the Deaf community—today, over 70% of NDS’s trainers and managers are Deaf professionals, and over 200 Deaf adults have been trained as trainers, driving sustainable change from within.

NDS has trained over 22,000 Deaf youth and children, with more than 5,400 placed in diverse industries. Ruma continues to lead systemic change and inclusion for the Deaf community in India and is a two-time TEDx speaker who regularly shares insights on Deaf empowerment and inclusion across leading platforms. She is also Chairperson The Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Ruma Roka’s work in advancing inclusive education and employment for the Deaf community has earned her multiple awards and recognitions from both private and government institutions, including:

• Sarojini Naidu- The Nightingale of India International Award for Working Women 2025
• Lions Subhash Lakhotia Service Award 2024 – For best Skill Development for Employment
• Rex Karmaveer Global Fellowship & Karmaveer Chakra Award (2023-2024)

• National Exemplar Award by Tech Mahindra Foundation, 2023
• Rashtra Bhushan Award, 2023 – Samaj Kalyan Federation Of India
• The Soch India Award 2023
• Shell Helen Keller Award, 2022 – National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled Person – LT Mindtree
• State Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disability, 2019 – Government of Uttar Pradesh
• Grant Thornton’s Social and Business Enterprise Responsible Award (SABERA)”, 2019 – Grant Thornton India
• Amazing Indian Awards for Educator of India -Times now, from Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Category- 2016
• 100 Women Achievers Award under the Disabled and Disadvantaged Category, 2016 – Ministry of Child & Women Development, Hon’ble Mr Pranab Mukherjee
• Stree Shakti Samman Award, 2015 – Stree Shakti Parallel Force
• National Women Excellence Award, 2013 – WIN, Women’s International Network
• Super Idol Award, 2010 – IBN7, Bajaj Allianz
• Shell Helen Keller Award, 2008 – National Centre for Promotion of Disabled People