The
company is among a select few of India’s largest manufacturing firms to feature
LGBTQIA+ employees in core operations
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s
largest producer of aluminium, celebrated Pride Month as an occasion to
reaffirm its dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. By
recently welcoming two transgender professionals into its operations at Lanjigarh,
Odisha, the company now employs nearly 30 transgender employees across all of
its primary locations. These include its mega aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda,
Odisha, its world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, and its subsidiary
BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer based in Chhattisgarh. This comes as a
significant achievement in Vedanta Aluminium’s mission to foster a truly
diverse workplace, placing the company among a handful of manufacturing and
heavy engineering firms in India and the world to include LGBTQIA+ employees
within core operations in varied roles such as asset security, materials
movement and hospitality.
To ease the community’s
transition from the periphery of society to smart manufacturing plants, and
help them evolve from semi-skilled people into professionals, Vedanta Aluminium
has adopted a three-pronged approach, which includes:
• Identification of
trans people with a minimum required set of skills for working in a
manufacturing industry, by conducting skill mapping studies
• Extensive training programs
for the recruits, aimed at honing the required skillsets, including soft skills
and business knowledge
• Building an empathetic & inclusive
environment by conducting gender-sensitization sessions
for its workforce, with respect to the social and psychological challenges of
trans people, proper code of conduct and ways of working to build a cohesive
and encouraging environment for all. This also includes ensuring required
infrastructural augmentations
Globally, the gender
diversity ratio in manufacturing and heavy engineering industries has been
quite low, and this deficit is especially acute in the metals and mining
sector. Recognizing the transformative power of diversity in generating
multi-dimensional thinking and strategic decision-making, Vedanta Aluminium has
embarked on a mission to break perception barriers to entering the
manufacturing industry and is actively fostering a workforce that transcends
gender boundaries. Since FY23, the company is endeavouring to expand its recruitment
efforts to actively include members of the LGBTQIA+ community within its
workforce, who otherwise often face challenges in securing sustainable
livelihoods. With this, the company aims to create a paradigm shift towards
acceptance and inclusivity in the manufacturing industry by hiring from this
talent pool that remains untapped in mainstream sectors.
On the company’s efforts to
strengthen its diverse workforce, Mr
Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business said, "As we
navigate the diverse and complex landscape of our global markets and customers,
we recognize the immense value of embracing diversity in all its forms. By
seeking out individuals with diverse perspectives, experiences, skills, and
educational backgrounds, we strengthen our pillar of employee centricity and
the ability to develop well-rounded business strategies. True merit transcends
gender, and we are committed to fostering a culture where every employee and
partner feels embraced, empowered, and encouraged to unleash their limitless
potential. We will continue to strive for a future where diversity is
celebrated as a catalyst for innovation and success."
Sharing her experience, Ranjan Pradhan, one of the trans
professionals recently hired at Lanjigarh said, “I am grateful for this
opportunity to earn a sustainable livelihood and envision a brighter future for
my personal and professional growth. Through such initiatives, Vedanta is
helping bring the marginalised trans community into the mainstream, and also
providing a safe and supportive environment to nurture our true potential.”
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
