From Bihar’s dusty labour chowks to a digital platform empowering thousands — this is the story of Chandrashekhar Mandal, a man turning dreams into dignity.
In 2020, while sipping coffee from his Delhi office balcony, Chandrashekhar Mandal witnessed a heartbreaking scene — daily wage workers huddling under trees and tea stalls to escape the rain, hoping someone would hire them for the day. That moment sparked a question that changed his life:
“If white-collar workers have LinkedIn, why can’t daily wage labourers have their own platform?”
Turning Empathy Into Innovation
Hailing from Ami village in Darbhanga, Bihar, Chandrashekhar knew poverty up close. Watching his relatives migrate for unstable jobs shaped his resolve. When the pandemic struck, the plight of migrant workers walking miles home only deepened his determination.
He quit his corporate job with just Rs 20,000 in savings and a big idea — to take India’s physical labour chowks online. In 2021, he founded Digital Labour Chowk, a platform that connects daily wage workers like masons, painters, plumbers, and carpenters with contractors and companies through a simple app.
Today, his innovation has helped over 1 lakh workers find steady income — many of them from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Empowering Workers, One Job at a Time
◆Digital Labour Chowk acts as a digital bridge between workers and employers.
◆Contractors post job details — location, wages, duration, and facilities.
◆Workers can browse listings, call employers directly, and choose suitable projects.
The app is free for workers and offers subscription options for contractors. What’s more, it’s not just about jobs — it’s about identity. Chandrashekhar’s team is building digital labour cards for every registered worker, providing them credibility and recognition.
To make registration easy, he tied up with shopkeepers near traditional labour chowks and even served chai and Roohafza during on-ground campaigns to convince workers to join.
Transforming an Unorganised Sector
Recognised by Startup India, Startup Bihar, and Citibank, Digital Labour Chowk is now working to offer upskilling opportunities in collaboration with institutes — preparing workers for better-paying jobs.
For workers like Shrawan Kumar from Darbhanga, the impact is life-changing.
“I earn in one year what I used to make in three. No more waiting under the sun for jobs. I can plan my future now,” he says.
A Digital Movement for Dignity
Chandrashekhar’s mission goes beyond employment — it’s about restoring dignity to India’s blue-collar workforce.
“I want every daily wage worker to have a credible virtual identity and freedom from uncertainty,” he says with quiet pride.
From the streets of Bihar to smartphones across India, Digital Labour Chowk is redefining what empowerment means — one click, one job, and one life at a time.
