- Ruma Kinariwala Rao, battled raising eyebrows in the foundry, empowering other women
- Resilience to empower women and enlighten the younger generation has earned Ruma a position as a Guest Lecturer in Thakur College of Engineering, Mumbai
- Defying ordeals and hostility in the workplace, Ruma successfully bagged recognition in the Indian foundry sector
A second-generation entrepreneur and Chairperson of the Indian Institute of Foundrymen (Greater Mumbai), Ruma Kinariwala Rao has embarked on a glorious ride of howling success. At just in her thirties, she has created an identity of her own and has mastered her skills in the Foundry business.
Her vision has driven Palm Alloy Steel Pvt Ltd, her family-owned business to climb greater heights. The company manufactures a host of grades for wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, stainless steel, alloy steel, high alloy steel, heat resistance steel, high chrome steel casting for conglomerate industries as per national & international standards.
Maneuvering her way to the top in the Foundry business
After completing her MBA, B.com graduate Ruma decided to join her family-run foundry business, a prospect that apparently seemed to be a cakewalk. Ruma was in for a bumpy ride after she joined the foundry. “It was quite intimidating for me, in the beginning, to see how things function in the business”, Ruma confesses looking back on her days as a novice. “It was a drastic change. I went from white-collar to blue-collar,” says Ruma.
After a few days of managing the foundry responsibilities, she started attending meetings under the guidance of her father and slowly conjured up the confidence to voice her concerns. Ruma’s presence sent across a ripple of a mixed reaction from the conglomeration of her male peers as they were pretty apprehensive about communicating business with a woman.
But this challenge was accepted by Ruma who would resiliently overcome her doubts and fears to establish rapport with new clients. Eventually, her journey in foundry took off, and in a ‘male-dominated industry’ Ruma cemented her own identity by coming out of the shadows cast by the cloak of patriarchy. Earlier, people who were reluctant or irreverent to share data with her, were now comfortable with her as she started delivering technical know-hows without batting an eye to her male counterparts.
Setback for manufacturing industry during COVID 19
Assessing the trail of damages left by COVID19, Ruma reflects, “It was a very difficult time for the manufacturing industry during COVID19 when the cases were at the peak in Maharashtra.” The manufacturing firms for being unable to operate virtually were hit the most.
It became extremely difficult for women to be recruited in the manufacturing sector as a lot of them were unwilling to commute or work due to the risks involved. So, as recruitments continued in IT and Finance, the manufacturing sector froze to a standstill. For women, it's not just the professional responsibilities but she also has to take care of her family. Travelling rigorously for working in the manufacturing units sprawled across Maharashtra seemed a far cry for many women at this time.
Palm Alloys wants to take women under their wings
Ruma and her organization are upbeat about including women in their business irrespective of the hiccups she has faced in doing so. “It is said that no women are interested in joining the foundry line. They are apprehensive about competing with gender discrepancy and hostility from male peers”, sighs Ruma.
This same intimidation is felt across the various departments. Ruma observes that women are more inclined to work in accounting than in marketing. She feels that besides harbouring a parochial mindset, many are completely in dark about the practical responsibilities in foundries. Ruma acknowledges that this unawareness is detrimental in bridging the gulf in gender disparity.
Ruma's association with Thakur College of Engineering in Mumbai as a guest faculty vouches for her relentless efforts towards guiding the engineering students and informing them about the multifaceted career prospects in the foundry. “Girls think that foundry is filthy and very tough to be working in, but they fail to realize that foundry branches into a plethora of interesting areas like computer science designing, etc. which requires technical knowledge and creativity”, explains Ruma who has long been committed to the mission upskilling the college students about India’s foundry culture.
Ruma observed that the engineering colleges also do not have any focus on Foundry which accounts for the lack of concrete ideas among the students. In Mechanical Engineering students are likely to join the foundry industry but the ratio of boys and girls in the colleges is also alarming.” Ruma has taken the initiative to approach the colleges and ask their students to join Palm Alloy. The organization is wholeheartedly striving to mentor them in pitching to companies. This interaction will contribute to the depth of their understanding, a prerequisite in grasping the nitty-gritty of foundry mechanisms. “I have approached the college and put my word forward. Let us see how things shape up,” explains Ruma.
Onus on the manufacturing sector to encourage women
Ruma emphasizes that the government is sincerely working towards the betterment of women, to empower and help them battle against odds. Ruma is optimistic about several schemes and policies that have been formulated, however, she is not blind to their debatable success in India either. How far these policies have been instrumental in uplifting women is yet to be discerned.
“The initiatives are still in a very dormant stage and need to grow on a huge scale,” opines Ruma. Now it is the time for the manufacturing firms to initiate programs, and the foundry is the mother of all industries that can come forward first. There are very few women working in the foundry business, anyway, and now is the time they should be encouraged and instilled with adequate knowledge about the industry.
Nonetheless, Ruma also talks about self-will that will sustain women in the sector. “If I had a daughter who would not be interested in this field, I would, of course, have not imposed my thoughts on her,” Ruma believes that women should first fully comprehend what working in the industry entails and then decide.
Ruma’s pledge to the women to battle challenges without cowering in indecision. She says that even in a male-dominated sector, women can speak up and present their opinions. “The determination and enthusiasm will help you soar high.”
Machine Maker celebrating Woman in Indian Manufacturing is coming out with incredible stories of #Womanufactuirng. If you would like to recommend anyone among you to be featured write to us at info@themachinemaker.com
