Ruth Manoj

Indian social entrepreneur empowering tribal communities through education

Early Activism

Ruth Manoj founded the Aadvik Foundation in 2003 to address educational disparities among India's tribal communities. Her work in Odisha state has built 150+ schools serving 25,000+ children from the Santhal and Munda tribes. Manoj's Bridge Schools program pioneered mobile education units operating in remote villages.

Innovative Programs

Her 2010 Girls' Leadership Academy has trained 3,000 tribal girls in STEM fields, with 60% proceeding to higher education. The Digital Education Platform she launched in 2018 provides online courses in tribal languages to 10,000+ students monthly.

National Impact

Manoj's advocacy led to India's 2016 RTE Tribal Education Act, mandating government funding for tribal education. Her Community Knowledge Centers network now includes 500+ libraries offering free access to agricultural and health resources in 15 tribal languages.