The Business Bytes
Bhubaneswar, September 18, 2024 (TBB Bureau): On the occasion of National Engineers’ Day, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation, enhancing access to quality education, and boosting local employment. Recognizing the crucial role engineers play in fostering sustainable progress, the event highlighted the company’s initiatives aimed at nurturing engineering talent and advancing technological innovation to positively impact Odisha’s development.
Vedanta Aluminium’s operations in Odisha have embraced cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the aluminium industry. With state-of-the-art machinery and sustainable production practices, the company provides an ideal environment for engineers to excel, enhancing their technical skills and accelerating their professional growth, thereby contributing to India’s rich pool of engineering talent.
At Vedanta’s Jharsuguda plant, nearly 1,000 engineers account for approximately 33% of its direct workforce, including a growing number of female engineers, contributing to an overall gender diversity of 17%. The company’s commitment to inclusion and equity is further strengthened through local recruitment efforts, which empower communities through skill development and career growth opportunities.
At Vedanta’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, women engineers make up 19% of the workforce, with several recognized as top performers both professionally and academically. Nearly 30% of Lanjigarh’s workforce comes from the local area, many of whom are first-generation engineers—a testament to Vedanta’s dedication to regional development.
The company has forged strong partnerships with India’s leading engineering institutions to cultivate the next generation of talent. Vedanta recruits from premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, MNIT, and VIT, as well as top colleges in Odisha, including NIT Rourkela, VSSUT, KIIT, CET, and IIT Bhubaneswar. These collaborations ensure a highly skilled and diverse workforce.
Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Gupta, COO of Vedanta Aluminium, stated, “On Engineers’ Day, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of our engineers, who are integral to our success. We are steadfastly committed to creating broader employment opportunities and driving sustainable development. By investing in both national and local talent, we are opening new avenues that benefit our industry and the communities we serve.”
Pranab Bhattacharya, CEO of the Alumina Business at Vedanta Aluminium, added, “Today, we honour the exceptional talent within our engineering teams. With diverse hiring from top institutions across the nation, we are dedicated to fostering innovation, diversity, and development. Our focus on education and recruitment underscores our commitment to building a strong, safe, and sustainable future for our company and the community.”
Vedanta Aluminium offers its engineers and employees exceptional learning and growth opportunities, which have earned multiple ‘Great Place to Work’ recognitions. The company cultivates industry leaders by providing engineers with enriching job experiences, internal growth workshops, and technical training programs. Vedanta attracts top engineering talent from prestigious institutions in India and abroad, as well as seasoned experts, by offering outstanding benefits, growth opportunities, and a cutting-edge work environment. Additionally, engineers receive regular training in emerging ESG practices, as Vedanta leads industry decarbonization efforts and has introduced India’s first low-carbon ‘green’ aluminium, Restora, thereby creating innovative ‘green’ tech jobs that redefine engineering careers. To support well-being, Vedanta Umang, a digital solution, provides engineers with extensive well-being services, and the company’s spousal hiring policy allows engineers to work alongside their partners and reside in company residential townships.
