On the occasion of the International Day of Women in Mining, Vedanta Limited spotlighted its industry-leading inclusion efforts by celebrating the largest team of women in underground mining in India. The company, along with its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc, made history in 2019 by being the first to bring women into underground mining roles—breaking decades-old barriers.
Today, more than 550 women are actively engaged in frontline mining roles across Vedanta’s business units. Women make up over 22% of the company’s workforce—totalling more than 3,000 employees—marking one of the highest female representations in the Indian metals and mining sector.
The mining industry in India has long faced a gender disparity, rooted in colonial-era legislation. A major shift came in 2019, when the government lifted an 82-year-old ban on women working in underground mines. Vedanta was quick to act, deploying India’s first female mine engineers underground.
Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta company, now operates three all-women mine rescue teams—an unprecedented feat in the country. Women are also leading key production processes, such as in the company’s aluminium division, where they run an all-women potline. Additionally, an all-female team oversees locomotive operations in one of Vedanta’s key logistics hubs.
This transformation has been made possible through Vedanta’s technology-driven approach to modern mining. With the integration of Industry 4.0 solutions—robotics, automation, remote-controlled operations, and real-time analytics—the company has been able to create safer and more standardized work environments, encouraging wider participation by women in roles traditionally considered high-risk or labour-intensive. Vedanta’s digital mines include tele-remote underground operations, drone-based monitoring, and predictive maintenance systems—opening doors for tech-savvy talent, regardless of gender.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd, shared,“We are proud to lead the way in building a truly inclusive mining industry. Women-led development is critical to India’s sustainable future. As the world transitions to low-carbon energy, the need for critical minerals is rising—and so is the need for skilled, diverse talent. Our commitment is to harness this potential by creating equal opportunities and an enabling ecosystem.”
Women across the Vedanta Group have been pioneers in their fields. Yogeshwari Rane, currently working at Vedanta’s Iron Ore division in Goa, became the first Indian woman to clear both underground and opencast mining first-class exams.“I grew up around mining in Goa and always dreamed of being part of this world. Vedanta gave me a platform to grow in both underground and surface mining operations,” said Ms Rane.
From Rajasthan’s Zawar Mines, Sandhya Rasakatla, the first woman in India to be appointed as an underground mine manager, added, “Mining was always a field I admired. To lead operations as a woman is incredibly empowering. Vedanta’s equal-opportunity culture has helped me advance professionally while constantly learning.”
Vedanta backs its inclusive hiring with a range of family-friendly policies and facilities. Employees benefit from initiatives such as spouse employment programs, childcare sabbaticals, and a ‘No-Questions Asked’ leave policy to support mental and physical well-being.
Company-operated townships near plant locations offer modern infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, creches, religious spaces, and leisure facilities such as swimming pools, sports centres, and cinemas—ensuring a high quality of life for employees and their families.
Vedanta is a globally diversified natural resources group with a strong presence across key sectors including critical minerals, metals, energy, and emerging technologies. With operations spanning India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, the company plays a vital role in supporting global supply chains and the energy transition.
Vedanta holds several industry-leading positions—it is the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc and ranks fourth globally in silver production. The company is also among the top aluminium producers worldwide and stands as India’s only private-sector oil and gas operator.
In addition, Vedanta is one of the country’s major private power producers and is actively expanding into high-growth areas like electronics and display glass manufacturing. Vedanta continues to play a strategic role in supplying materials essential to the global energy transition while championing inclusive growth across its operations.
