New Delhi, Mar 7
In a major step toward gender diversity, Vedanta Aluminium has transformed an entire smelter line at its Jharsuguda plant in Odisha to be operated and maintained exclusively by women. This marks a groundbreaking move in India’s metals and mining sector, where women’s participation has traditionally been low.
The Jharsuguda facility, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, is transitioning one of its SEZ potlines to an all-women workforce in a three-phase project, creating over 100 roles. Women employees from across Vedanta’s operations were selected through internal postings, diversity programs, and outreach initiatives. They are now undergoing specialized training, supported by senior leadership and technical experts.
Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized that diversity and inclusion are key drivers of innovation and operational excellence. “By empowering women in core manufacturing roles, we are breaking industry stereotypes and building a future-ready workforce,” he said.
Pankaj Sureka, CHRO of Vedanta Aluminium, highlighted the company’s vision of ‘Shakti se Pragati’ (Progress through Empowerment). He reaffirmed Vedanta’s commitment to creating equal opportunities and enabling women to take on leadership roles.
Vedanta aims for 30% women representation in its workforce by FY2030, with a goal of hiring 50% women for fresher roles. Initiatives like Project Shree Shakti (introducing night shifts for women in Odisha) and Project Panchhi (providing financial aid and employment for marginalized girls) further demonstrate the company’s dedication to gender inclusion in the manufacturing sector.
