Overview

The Labour and Social Research Institute (LASRI) was conceived in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when Bihar witnessed one of the most severe instances of reverse migration in recent history. As Victor Hugo rightly said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come”—and LASRI emerged as that idea, founded by alumni of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, particularly those hailing from Bihar, who shared a vision of transforming society through intellectual engagement and social action.

Bihar, despite its rich cultural and human capital, continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges such as unemployment, large-scale migration, industrial stagnation, underdeveloped land reforms, and climate vulnerabilities. The state, which contributes only 1.5% of India’s factories (RBI data), reflects a mismatch between its potential and its socio-economic realities.

LASRI was established to fill a critical void in the region—a lack of Bihar-centered, scientific social research and data-driven policy engagement. The institute aims to bridge the gap between community experiences and institutional decision-making.

Since its inception, LASRI has expanded its footprint beyond Bihar to Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Telangana, Delhi, and Karnataka, addressing complex labour, migration, and development issues across regions.

Our mission is to evolve as one of India’s leading research and policy think tanks, driving innovation and insight across domains such as labour rights, land reforms, migration, climate change, and social justice. Through grounded research, advocacy, and cross-sector collaboration, LASRI aspires to shape inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development not only in Bihar but across the country.