Phoolbasan Bai Yadav is a renowned social worker from Sukuldaihan village in Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh. Born on December 5, 1969, she was married at the age of 10 and had limited formal education. Despite these early challenges, she became a powerful advocate for women's rights and social reform in rural Chhattisgarh.
In 2001, Phoolbasan founded the Maa Bamleshwari Janhitkari Samiti, an NGO that has grown to include over 12,000 women's self-help groups with more than 200,000 members. Her organization has been instrumental in promoting women's empowerment, halting child marriages, and advocating for alcohol prohibition in numerous villages. Notably, it played a significant role in closing down over 250 liquor shops in the state. Her exceptional contributions have earned her several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 2012. Phoolbasan continues to inspire countless individuals through her unwavering commitment to social justice and community development.