Poma Tudu, born on October 25, 1979, is a selfless Indian Administrative Service officer from the 2012 batch of Odisha. The responsibility of Poma has been as a model for many, especially the tribal youth, owing to her commitment to social causes and community welfare. An alumna of Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi, the attainment of her goals by Poma is made possible through her convergence of academics with growing field experiences in implementing target-oriented projects focusing on tribal and rural communities for transformations in their quality of life.

Poma Tudu is a member of the Santhal tribe, an indigenous community of India that is recognized worldwide for its distinct cultural heritage and traditions. Since she has been in the Indian Administrative Service as an embodiment of her people's aspirations, Poma is really focused on the challenges that tribal communities are facing, especially with those in remote and underdeveloped areas. With the aim of uplifting the Santhal community, she is trying to create a lens towards inclusivity in governance.

Poma Tudu attained great recognition by entering the IAS in 2012, with her name being listed in the Odisha cadre. She became the first woman IAS officer from the tribal community to hold the position of Collector in Nuapada district in 2017. The appointment of Poma stands as an achievement in history, which will inspire tribal women and youth to take up careers in public service. Her proactive work and personal involvement as an IAS officer allow her to draw attention to issues on the fields that create a big difference in rural development.

As the Collector of Nuapada, Poma gained recognition for personally visiting the remotest Naxal-affected areas, trekking for hours to reach the marginalized communities. Her spirit of serving the purpose of closing the gap between the local residents and the administration created a huge impact, with her work geared toward connectivity, medical services, and access in hard-to-reach villages. With her approach of listening firsthand and answering grievances, Poma resoundingly set an example of responsive governance whereby even the most distant voices were heard.

The determination of Poma was instigated by her mother, the first woman from their tribal family to take formal education and secure a bank job. Poma wants social change, and this urge has led her to often get beyond her official duties to address various social issues and those pertinent to tribal communities. She tries to find some off time just to get involved in the uplifting of tribal communities, for better education, healthcare, and rights. Her life and work are inspiring and motivative for the tribal young women to take up their aspirations and serve the society.