While most companies celebrated International Women’s Day with ceremonial posts and token gestures, Vedanta took a bold step forward, showcasing what it claims is India’s largest cohort of women in underground mining operations.
In an industry historically dominated by men, this assertion could mark a critical shift. Or is it just another polished PR act?
🛠️ Breaking the Ground — Literally and Socially
Vedanta, along with its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc, became the first Indian corporate group to induct women into underground mining roles back in 2019. Fast forward to 2025, and the company claims to employ over 550 women in core mining operations — the highest for any private firm in India.
🤖 Technology + Policy = Inclusion?
To make such integration feasible, Vedanta has turned to Industry 4.0 tools, automation, robotics, and remote mining systems that reduce the physically intensive nature of the work.
Backed by inclusive workplace policies, the company’s offerings include:
- Spouse hiring support
- A one-year childcare sabbatical
- A flexible “no-questions-asked” leave policy
- Residential townships equipped with schools, hospitals, day-care, and sports facilities
🔦 Voices from the Ground
- Sandhya Rasakatla, India’s first underground woman mine manager (Zawar Mines, Rajasthan), says she has been given equal opportunities and trust in her role.
- Yogeshwari Rane, the first Indian woman to clear the nation’s top mining exams, is currently stationed at Vedanta’s Goa Iron Ore facility and says she’s gained exposure across underground and open-cast setups — an opportunity rarely offered in the sector.
📊 A Snapshot of the Numbers
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Total women employees | ~3,000 |
| Women in core mining | 550+ |
| Gender inclusion target | 30% by FY 2030 |
| National firsts claimed | First female underground miners, rescue teams, locomotive unit, aluminium production line |
👁️ SanvaadGarh’s Editorial Lens
These milestones are undoubtedly pioneering. But a few hard questions still need answers:
- Is this real systemic change or just symbolic progress?
- Are women being groomed for leadership or confined to visual representation?
- Can this model push India’s public and private mining companies to rethink gender roles?
If Vedanta’s initiative is more than marketing polish, it could be the spark that finally ignites gender parity in India’s heavy industries. But to be truly revolutionary, these changes must percolate beyond one company’s HR manual and into the larger industrial ecosystem.
Is Indian mining ready for a real feminist revolution? Or is this another photo-op dressed as progress?
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