Chaitali Das
Dr. Chaitali Das is an internationally acclaimed Jute Revivalist, Social Reformer, Social Entrepreneur, Guinness World Record holder, and award-winning changemaker. She is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities through sustainable innovation, skill development, and social transformation.
She is the visionary behind Jute Story Beyond Bars, a pioneering initiative that uses jute-based livelihood programs to rehabilitate prison inmates through skill development and reintegration. The initiative later evolved into Route2Jute Pvt. Ltd., a startup incubated by the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Innovation Park, Government of India, earning national and international recognition for its unique social and environmental impact.
Dr. Das has represented India at prestigious national and global forums, advocating for human dignity, prisoner reformation, and sustainable development. Her award-winning documentary, Jute Story Beyond Bars, has received four national and eight international awards for showcasing the transformative power of social innovation.
A former AFT Mrs. International, she believes that every stage of life offers new opportunities for purpose and leadership. During her battle with cancer, she authored PAAT-RANI – The Queen of Jute, reflecting her journey of resilience and commitment to preserving artisanal heritage.
MOMENTS
Jute Story
Beyond Bars
Jute Story Beyond Bars (JSBB) is the flagship project of Rakshak Foundation, initiated by Social Entrepreneur, Chaitali Das. It is a unique effort to revive eco-friendly jute through popularizing its use in daily life. It is an effort to reform prison inmates through skilling them in making diversified jute products and encouraging responsible livelihood development for their economic betterment.
Jute Story Beyond BarJute Story Beyond Bars is operational since 2016 at Dumdum Correctional Home and Presidency Correctional Home, Alipore. It is an umbrella project under which various other allied projects are undertaken. Chaitali’s relentless work of promoting and reviving jute has led her to be known as a ‘Jute Revivalist’.
World
Record
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER
Chaitali Das is the Guinness World Record Holder for the largest Jute Bag in the World. With this achievement she has sent a larger-than-life message of a ‘Greener, Healthier and Inclusive World’, to the global audience. She has been dubbed the ’Jute Revivalist’ as she works extensively to promote and popularize jute as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to non-biodegradable products that seriously threaten the environment we live in.
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A story carried across national and local media.
Various initiatives and achievements of Chaitali Das have been published and found endorsement in national and local print and digital media, creating a tremendous outreach. Her work with eco-friendly jute and prison inmate artisans has earned her tremendous media attention and endorsement.
Chaitali’s opinions are sought especially in social, legal and women’s issues. Her inspirational story has been covered in various magazines as a life dedicated to social justice and humanitarian welfare.
