Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, successfully wrapped up its Women’s Week celebrations, which included a series of initiatives aimed at empowering women and promoting gender inclusivity within the organization. These initiatives were part of the company’s broader ‘Shakti Se Pragati’ campaign, which celebrates women as transformative forces in their lives, workplaces, homes, communities, and the country. The campaign showcases their strength, resilience, and boundless potential, helping them break barriers and chart their own paths.
A standout moment of the week was the inauguration of Vedanta Aluminium’s first women-operated smelter line at its plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in its workforce, with a goal of achieving 30% female representation by 2030. The celebrations also included various activities focused on skill-building, financial literacy, self-defence, and an inclusive employee handbook, all designed to uplift and support female employees, partners, and local communities.
Vedanta also launched the “UnstoppabAl” magazine, highlighting 12 inspiring stories of women integral to the company, and introduced the “Pinkbook,” a detailed guide outlining policies aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion. Additionally, personalized uniforms were introduced for female employees, ensuring greater comfort and inclusivity. The company believes that diversity and gender inclusivity are vital to fostering innovation and productivity in the highly competitive aluminium manufacturing sector.
The Women’s Week celebrations at Vedanta Aluminium featured a series of impactful events aimed at empowering women across its operations. At the Lanjigarh alumina refinery, a session on conflict management and unconscious bias was led by Ms Aparna Sharma, a respected HR leader. Female employees were inspired as they shared their personal stories, which were followed by the launch of the Pinkbook by Mr Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO of Vedanta Limited – Alumina Business. The event concluded with the recognition of women employees for their significant contributions to the company.
At the Jharsuguda aluminium plant, activities were organized to promote both personal and professional growth for women employees. A self-defence training session was conducted, along with a leadership talk on gender inclusivity. In addition, over 100 local women artisans were supported through skill development programs, and a session titled ‘Being Unstoppable’ encouraged personal empowerment. The company also took the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs, along with organizing engaging activities for children at a nearby government school.
The BALCO plant in Korba hosted a large-scale celebration that brought together over 400 employees and partners. A special session by Padmashri Shamshad Begum, who has empowered over 65,000 women, inspired the audience with her incredible journey. The event also marked the introduction of personalized uniforms for female employees, ensuring greater comfort and inclusivity. The celebrations culminated in a cultural evening, which honored womanhood and featured performances that included transgender employees, promoting inclusivity and diversity.
In the Sijimali Mines area, the company focused on fostering entrepreneurship among local women. Machinery was provided to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Gunpur village to support chappal-making, paper plate production, and rice milling, thereby boosting microenterprises led by women. International Women’s Day was celebrated with over 2,000 women from SHGs across villages near Vedanta’s coal mines. The event included leadership discussions, cultural programs, and self-defence training for young girls, empowering them with skills for their future.
At the VGCB terminal in Visakhapatnam, 52 women from local Self-Help Groups participated in a financial literacy workshop that emphasized economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. This event reinforced VGCB’s commitment to helping women achieve financial independence and play a significant role in their communities. Through these activities, Vedanta Aluminium’s Women’s Week celebrations showcased the company’s dedication to empowering women at all levels, both within the organization and in surrounding communities.
Vedanta Aluminium, a key division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, manufacturing over half of the country’s aluminium production, with 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. The company also leads in the production of value-added aluminium products for core industries. Recognized as the leader in the aluminium industry’s sustainability efforts, Vedanta Aluminium ranked 1st in the 2023 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Through its advanced smelters, alumina refinery, and power plants, the company drives the future of aluminium applications, supporting a greener, more sustainable world.
