The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MARCH 18, 2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, successfully concluded its Women’s Week celebrations, reinforcing its commitment to gender inclusivity, financial empowerment, and skills development. The highlight of the week was the launch of the company’s first-ever women-operated smelter line at its Jharsuguda aluminium plant in Odisha — a landmark achievement in the male-dominated industry.
The celebrations, held under Vedanta’s broader Shakti Se Pragati campaign, focused on empowering women as change-makers in their workplaces, homes, and communities. As part of its larger goal of achieving 30% female representation in its workforce by 2030, the company organized diverse initiatives, including financial literacy sessions, entrepreneurship support, and self-defence training. Vedanta Aluminium also introduced UnstoppabAl, a magazine showcasing inspiring stories of women within the company, and Pinkbook, a guide to fostering workplace diversity. Additionally, personalized-fit uniforms for female employees were launched to enhance inclusivity and comfort.
Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s commitment to gender equity, stating, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we firmly believe in empowering women to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. Our Women’s Week celebrations reflect our dedication to fostering a culture of inclusivity, skill development, and leadership, ensuring that women thrive across all spheres of life.”
The company’s various units undertook several impactful initiatives. At Lanjigarh, Odisha, a session on conflict management and unconscious bias was conducted by HR leader Aparna Sharma, followed by the launch of Pinkbook by Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Vedanta Limited – Alumina Business. Women employees were felicitated for their contributions. At Jharsuguda, Odisha, self-defence training and a leadership talk on gender inclusivity were conducted, along with a ‘Being Unstoppable’ session to inspire personal growth. Vedanta also supported over 100 terracotta artisans and organized interactive activities for young school children. At BALCO in Chhattisgarh, over 400 employees and partners participated in the celebrations, featuring a talk by Padma Shri awardee Shamshad Begum, who has empowered over 65,000 women. More than 80 women were felicitated, and a cultural night was organized to celebrate womanhood, including transgender employees. At Sijimali Mines, Odisha, machinery for chappal-making, paper plate production, and rice milling was provided to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), fostering microenterprise development. Additionally, self-defence training and cultural programs were organized for over 2,000 SHG women across various villages. At Vizag General Cargo Berth (VGCB) in Visakhapatnam, financial literacy sessions were conducted for 52 SHG women, promoting economic independence and entrepreneurship.
As a global leader in sustainable aluminium production, Vedanta Aluminium continues to drive initiatives that foster inclusivity, innovation, and workforce transformation. The company, which produced 2.37 million tonnes of aluminium in FY24, remains committed to leveraging the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener and more equitable tomorrow.
