NEW DELHI (India CSR): Ahead of International Day of Women in Mining, Vedanta Limited celebrated India’s largest cohort of women in underground mining. Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc were the first in India to induct women in underground mining in 2019. Over 550 women work in core mining operations across the company’s various businesses. India’s leading energy transition metals, critical minerals, energy & technology conglomerate, Vedanta is spearheading gender inclusivity across its operations in the country. With over 22% gender diversity, Vedanta’s workforce includes more than 3,000 women employees who are making significant contributions to the sector. This is a substantial representation of women in the metals & mining sector when compared to Vedanta’s domestic peers.
The natural resources sector has historically faced glaring under-representation of women in its workforce. However, Vedanta has achieved many firsts in this sector such as the country’s first underground women miners and all-women underground mine rescue teams at Hindustan Zinc. Also, Hindustan Zinc has the distinction of having three all-women underground mine rescue teams, the highest in India. In addition to mining, the company has a high representation of women in core metal production operations as well. For instance, the company has an all-women aluminium production line (potline) and an all-women locomotive operations unit.
This has been possible due to Vedanta’s commitment to providing rich job content powered by a tech-first approach through Industry 4.0, robotics and automation that have standardized work processes and eliminated manual intervention associated with this sector. The company provides differentiated career enhancement opportunities in this high-growth sector with the global boom in critical minerals and energy transition metals.
Vedanta is actively bridging the skill gap within this sector by offering exciting career options irrespective of gender. Along with that, Vedanta operates digital mines, featuring surface-based underground mining (tele-remote) operations, drone-based surveillance, real-time analytics, and automation, which have led to a significant rise in the number of women professionals choosing careers at Vedanta in mining.
Speaking on the occasion, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director – Vedanta Ltd & Chairperson – Hindustan Zinc Ltd, said, “At Vedanta, we are deeply committed to creating an inclusive workplace that ensures equal opportunity for all. Women-led development is now central to sustainable growth in India, and we are dedicated to advancing this cause. Metals & mining is going to be intrinsic to a low-carbon future, and we need to bridge the skill gap in this sector. From India’s first unground women miners to India’s first women rescue team – the women at Vedanta are breaking the glass ceiling. Through progressive policies we hope to leverage and empower this talent pool of women. We are building a future where diversity fuels innovation, inclusion accelerates progress, and every individual is empowered to make a meaningful, lasting impact.”
In the early 20th century, women working in metals and mining were a common sight. However, the Indian Mining Act of 1923 restricted their entry into underground mines, and a complete ban was imposed in 1937 under British rule. Although the restriction was briefly lifted from 1943 to 1946 – allowing nearly 70,000 women to work underground – the perception of metals & mining as an unsuitable profession for women persisted for over 80 years. It was only in 2019, after a petition by a group of seven mining engineering students, that the Indian government finally lifted the ban and Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc swiftly emerged as the first company ever to deploy women mine engineers in their underground mines.
Sharing her thoughts, Yogeshwari Rane, India’s first woman to clear the first-class examination in both underground and opencast mining, currently working at the company’s Iron Ore mine in Goa, said, “Coming from the mining rich area of Goa, I was always fascinated with this field. And with Vedanta’s pool of opportunities, I got a chance to explore this field fully beyond textbooks. I’ve had a chance to work in both the underground and opencast mines with multiple growth prospects within this field. From the Zawar Group of Mines in Rajasthan, Sandhya Rasakatla, India’s first underground woman mine manager, shared her journey: “I was always fascinated with the world of metals and mining. It is a proud feeling to be here because, as a woman, I was the first in the mining industry to get this exposure. Moreover, working with the same opportunities as our male counterparts in an environment ready to adapt, learn, and aid personal and professional development adds to it.”
Vedanta offers a comprehensive suite of supportive workplace policies, including a spouse hiring policy, a year-long sabbatical for childcare, and ‘No-Questions Asked’ leave policy prioritizing mental and physical health. Beyond policies, employees live in world-class townships offering all modern amenities in proximity to the plants. These include schools, hospitals, daycare centres, creches, places of worship, sports and recreational facilities like swimming pools, golf courses, and movie theatres, which foster vibrant social life.
Vedanta Limited is a global leader in critical minerals, energy and technology operating a diverse portfolio of world-class assets. It is the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc, the fourth-largest global producer of silver, amongst the world’s top aluminium producers, India’s only private oil and gas producer, and one of its largest private power producers. With an eye on the future, the company is strategically expanding its business portfolio by venturing into rare earths, other critical minerals, and renewable energy.
(India CSR)
हिंदी में भी पढ़ें: खनन में अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवसः वेदांता ने भारत की सबसे बड़ी महिला खनन कर्मियों की टीम का उत्सव मनाया
