Tata Steel has made history by introducing India’s first-ever all-women shift at its Noamundi Iron Mine. This groundbreaking initiative reflects the company’s dedication to fostering an equitable workplace and empowering women in traditionally male-dominated industries. The shift will see women handling all mining activities, including operating Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), shovels, loaders, drills, dozers, and shift supervision.
The all-women shift was inaugurated by Shri Shyam Sundar Prasad, Dy. Director General, Mines Safety, SE Region, Ranchi, Jharkhand, marking a new chapter in government support for a progressive workplace. Shri Prasad highlighted the government’s commitment to allowing women in all shifts in mining since 2019 and praised Tata Steel’s leadership in this pioneering effort. Also present at the event were Shri Rakesh Rameshwar Mishra, Director Mines Safety, Chaibasa, and Shri Sudheer R, Dy. Director Mines Safety, Chaibasa.
D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Raw Material at Tata Steel, emphasized that the all-women shift is a landmark achievement for both Tata Steel and the Indian mining industry. It underscores the resilience and capability of women who are breaking stereotypes. This initiative aligns with Tata Steel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, which they believe are key to driving innovation and operational excellence. Tata Steel has been at the forefront of these efforts since launching the “Women@Mines” initiative in 2019, the first company in India to deploy women in all shifts following the relaxation of the Mines Act, 1952.
The “Tejaswini” initiative, aimed at recruiting and training women from local communities to operate HEMM, has been instrumental in this transition. The “Tejaswini 2.0” program, launched in 2021, trained women as HEMM operators across various roles, including dumper, shovel, dozer, grader, and drill operators. This success led to the “Tejaswini 2.1” program in 2022, attracting over 2100 applications and selecting 24 operators. Earlier this year, the Noamundi Mine further diversified its workforce by inducting nine transgender HEMM operators, underscoring Tata Steel’s commitment to inclusion and equality.
Tata Steel has been recognized with the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse Award 2023 and was named a Gold Employer by the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) 2024 for the fourth consecutive year for its commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. The company has also achieved 20% diversity in its India workforce.
Tata Steel Group is a global steel powerhouse with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the most geographically diversified steel producers in the world, with operations and a commercial presence spanning five continents. In FY24, the group achieved a consolidated turnover of approximately USD 27.7 billion and boasts an employee base of over 78,000. Recognised as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation, Tata Steel is committed to excellence in its workforce practices and sustainability initiatives, including its ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero by 2045.
Tata Steel has been a pioneer in leveraging digital technologies to redefine steelmaking. It has received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden plants, along with the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 from Economic Times CIO. The company has also been recognised for its diversity and inclusion efforts, earning the Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse accolade in 2023. Tata Steel is a leader in sustainable practices, being part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and ranking consistently among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Notably, more than 90% of its steel production in India now comes from ResponsibleSteel™ certified sites.
Over the years, Tata Steel has received numerous accolades, reflecting its commitment to excellence across various domains. Its Jamshedpur plant was the first in India to receive ResponsibleSteel™ certification, followed by its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants. Among its many honours are the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best-performing integrated steel plant, the Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for seven consecutive years, and the 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP. Other notable awards include the Global ERM Award of Distinction at the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, the ‘Masters of Risk’ recognition for the eighth consecutive year, and the ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023 for its pioneering Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report.
