Indian women's rights activist Ruth Manorama has been named among the winners of the 'alternative Nobels', the Right Livelihood Awards that were announced on Thursday.

She shared the prize worth $270,000 with Daniel Ellsberg, a former United States defence official who leaked secret Pentagon documents during the Vietnam War.

Manorama got the honours for her crusade to equality of Dalit women.

The founder of the awards Jakob von Uexkull sold a valuable stamp collection to fund the awards.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Swedish Parliament on December 8, two days before the Nobel Prizes are handed out.