In a historic move to promote diversity and inclusion, Tata Steel has launched an all-women shift at its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand. This groundbreaking initiative will see women employees taking charge of all mining activities, including operating Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), shovels, loaders, drills, and dozers, as well as overseeing shift supervision.
“This initiative, India’s first, underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to creating an equitable workplace and empowering women in traditionally male-dominated industries,” Tata Steel stated in a press release.
This momentous step, marking a major milestone for Tata Steel and the Indian mining industry, was highlighted by D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President of Raw Materials at Tata Steel. He remarked, “This all-women shift represents a landmark achievement not only for Tata Steel but also for the Indian mining industry. We are proud to lead this change and will continue to create more opportunities for women, especially in our mining ecosystem. This initiative marks a significant addition to the 100 glorious years of mining at Noamundi.”
The company’s journey towards greater gender inclusivity began in 2019 with the launch of its “Women@Mines” diversity programme, which saw the deployment of women across all shifts at its mining sites. Building upon this success, Tata Steel introduced the “Tejaswini” initiative, which was designed to recruit and train women from local communities to operate HEMM and take active roles in the mining sector.
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Under the “Tejaswini 2.0” programme, which was launched in 2021, women from surrounding communities received rigorous training to become HEMM operators. “The initiative was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, and women were deployed across roles such as dumper, shovel, dozer, grader, and drill operators. They underwent extensive training, including technical and operational skills, simulator sessions, safety protocols, and physical fitness, before joining the workforce in April 2022,” the release detailed.
The success of “Tejaswini 2.0” led to the introduction of “Tejaswini 2.1” in 2022, which attracted more than 2,100 applications, ultimately selecting 24 women operators for the programme.
Earlier this year, Noamundi Mine also expanded its diversity efforts by inducting nine transgender HEMM operators. Tata Steel has achieved a remarkable 20% gender diversity in its Indian workforce, further solidifying its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment across the company.
This initiative at Noamundi not only highlights Tata Steel’s dedication to empowering women but also serves as a catalyst for broader change within the mining industry, historically known for its male-dominated workforce. With continued efforts to enhance gender diversity, Tata Steel is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in the mining sector.
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