Chhandosree Thakur

Chhandosree Thakur is the Operational Head of LIVE FOUNDATION, a Jharkhand-based organization dedicated to the socio-economic upliftment of lac-growing farmers, with a special focus on empowering women. Under her leadership, the foundation has transformed the lives of rural communities by promoting sustainable lac cultivation practices and the plantation of lac host trees, ensuring both environmental sustainability and steady income for farmers. Her work with LIVE FOUNDATION is deeply aligned with key UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as eradicating poverty (SDG 1), promoting gender equality (SDG 5), and ensuring the sustainable management of land and forests (SDG 15). Chhandosree’s unwavering commitment to social justice, sustainable development, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge fuels her dedication to creating meaningful and enduring change in the communities she serves. LIVE FOUNDATION, under Chhandosree’s guidance, has become a beacon of hope for these communities, enhancing the value of lac products, leading to better pricing and improved livelihoods. The foundation’s initiatives include training women to create lac-based designer jewelry and artifacts, opening new market opportunities and fostering economic empowerment. Chhandosree’s academic achievements include a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, and she is currently pursuing a PhD. She also holds specialized training in strategic communication from Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA). Before entering the development sector, she had a distinguished career in journalism, working for national dailies like Hindustan Times and The Telegraph, where her reporting on women’s issues earned her several prestigious fellowships.