Vedanta Aluminium, an Indian multinational mining company, has once again proven the Indian aluminium production is not about male workers working in factories and plants and sites. The firm has empowered women by deploying an all-woman locomotive engine team in its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter. This will significantly contribute to India's commitment to fostering a diversified, equitable and inclusive workplace.
Image source: vedantaaluminium.com
At the beginning of this year, in Odisha, the firm's entire smelter line had begun its operations with a team of only women. This newly developed team has four loco drivers working in shifts, two support staff and one gatewoman.
The firm aims to bring women professionals to the forefront of the plant, especially in the most critical logistical operation areas, shifting the raw materials via the locomotive engine and rake. As a result, this will ensure the plant has safe operations and constant maintenance of the assets.
Owing to this, Vedanta Aluminium's CEO, Rajiv Kumar, said, "True progress stems from equal opportunity where everyone has the chance to contribute, grow and lead. Inclusivity is not just a core value for us but a catalyst for innovation, resilience and operational excellence."
This manoeuvre follows the previous initiative by the firm at the Jharsuguda plants referred to as "Shree Shakti", which was launched with the support of 108 women actively taking key roles in operations during the night shift.
Apart from this, the company had also launched an all-women managed potline in Jharsuguda, which was deemed the first in India. Irrespective of the critical nature of work in a potline, 100 and above women were employed via internal job posting and upskilling with the support of specialised training programmes.
Vedanta Aluminium's CEO, Rajiv Kumar, also stated, "The deployment of our all-women locomotive team marks another milestone in our journey to break stereotypes and create meaningful pathways for women in industrial operations. From logistics and production to critical engineering functions, our women professionals are leading from the front and inspiring future generations to reimagine their role in shaping the nation's industrial future."
With such an initiative to uphold women in the Indian aluminium industry, Vedanta Aluminium is successfully doing so by prioritising all women's skills, will, and determination to reach a point of success, breaking all factors, especially in the hiring process.
The COO of Vedanta Aluminium, Sunil Gupta, has said, "prioritise determination, skill, and the will to succeed above all other factors when it comes to our hiring practices.: The company believes that "through these efforts, not only do we build a more diverse industry, but also a more resilient nation."
As of now, the firm has successfully employed 1,200 women professionals who have been an active contributor to the company's overall success. These women's roles range from managerial leadership to technical operations. Moreover, this can potentially move more women in persuasion to create grounding careers in the traditionally male-dominated mining and metals industries.
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