Tata Steel Introduces India’s First All-Women Shift at Noamundi Iron Ore Mines

Tata Steel has introduced India’s first all-women shift at its Noamundi iron ore mines in Jharkhand, where women employees will operate heavy machinery and supervise mining activities. This marks a significant move towards gender inclusivity and workplace diversity in the mining sector.

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In a landmark step toward gender inclusivity, Tata Steel has launched India’s first-ever all-women shift at its Noamundi iron ore mines in Jharkhand. The shift, which includes women employees performing critical mining operations, marks a groundbreaking move in the traditionally male-dominated mining sector. Women will handle Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) operations, including shovels, loaders, drills, dozers, and shift supervision.

The all-women shift was officially inaugurated by Shyam Sundar Prasad, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, SE Region, Ranchi. Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Prasad lauded Tata Steel for taking the lead in fostering an equitable workplace. He noted that the Directorate General of Mines Safety’s (DGMS) 2019 decision to allow women to work in all mining shifts was a pivotal step toward workplace inclusivity.

D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President of Raw Material at Tata Steel, emphasized that this initiative is a major milestone for the Indian mining industry. “The all-women shift is a testament to the resilience and capability of women in breaking stereotypes,” he said. Ramam added that diversity and inclusion remain key to driving innovation and operational excellence at Tata Steel.

The foundation for this initiative was laid with Tata Steel’s Women@Mines program, launched in 2019, after the relaxation of the Mines Act, 1952, which had previously restricted women’s roles in mining operations. Following this, Tata Steel introduced the Tejaswini initiative to recruit and train women from local communities to operate HEMM and actively participate in mining activities.

Building on its success, the Tejaswini 2.0 program was launched in 2021, training women in technical skills, operational protocols, and physical fitness. These women were then deployed in roles such as dumper, shovel, drill, and dozer operators. The overwhelming response led to the Tejaswini 2.1 program, which received over 2,100 applications, with 24 women successfully selected for operator roles.

In an extension of its diversity efforts, Tata Steel inducted nine transgender HEMM operators at its Noamundi mines earlier this year, further demonstrating its commitment to inclusion and equality. The company’s continued focus on diversity has earned it notable accolades, including the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023 and a Gold Employer recognition from the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) 2024 for LGBT+ inclusion.

Tata Steel, which has achieved a workforce diversity rate of 20% in India, continues to lead initiatives promoting inclusive workplaces. The launch of the all-women shift not only breaks gender barriers but also sets a new standard for the Indian mining industry.