Tata Steel has broken new ground in India’s mining sector with the launch of an all-women shift at its Noamundi Iron Mine in Jharkhand.
Starting 16 December 2024, women employees will independently manage all mining operations during their shift.
This first-of-its-kind initiative highlights Tata Steel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, empowering women in roles traditionally dominated by men. The team will handle critical tasks, including operating Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) such as shovels, loaders, drills and dozers, as well as supervising shifts.
The historic shift was inaugurated by Shyam Sundar Prasad, deputy director general of mines safety, South Eastern Region, Ranchi. He praised Tata Steel’s leadership in fostering an equitable workplace and acknowledged the government’s support in allowing women to work across all shifts in mines, a reform introduced in 2019.
The journey began five years ago with Tata Steel’s ‘Women@Mines’ initiative, making it the first Indian company to deploy women in mining shifts after the Mines Act was amended. This was followed by the ‘Tejaswini’ programme, aimed at training local women to operate HEMM.
Under ‘Tejaswini 2.0’ in 2021, women received rigorous training, including simulator-based sessions and safety protocols, and by April 2022, they assumed roles as dumpers, graders, and dozer operators. The success continued with “Tejaswini 2.1” in 2022, attracting over 2,100 applications and resulting in the selection of 24 women operators.
Earlier this year, Noamundi Mine made another historic move by welcoming nine transgender HEMM operators, reinforcing its focus on inclusion. Tata Steel’s efforts have been globally acknowledged. With women now forming 20 per cent of its workforce in India, Tata Steel continues to set benchmarks in workplace diversity.
