Udaipur, March 12, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): In a significant step for India’s metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc Limited—one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producers and among the top five silver producers—has launched the women-led ‘Tejaswini’ all-women shift at its Chanderiya Smelting Complex for operations across all shifts.
The facility is among the world’s largest and most technologically advanced zinc smelting operations. The initiative marks an important step toward building a more inclusive workforce and creating leadership opportunities for women in core operational roles within heavy industry.
At the Chanderiya Smelting Complex, women engineers and operators will work at the centre of large-scale metallurgical operations that play a vital role in zinc production used in infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy transition applications. Through the Tejaswini initiative, Hindustan Zinc is enabling women to lead critical processes in one of the most advanced smelting ecosystems in the global metals industry.
At a time when women’s participation in the mining and metals sector has historically remained limited, the company is taking steps to redefine industry norms by encouraging women to represent essential operational roles. Women currently constitute 26.3 percent of the company’s workforce, the highest in the sector, setting new benchmarks for gender diversity in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
A dedicated team of 30 women professionals will take charge of core process operations, maintenance, and safety responsibilities across these units, marking a major step toward increasing women’s participation in core manufacturing roles. With this initiative, fully women-led operational shifts have begun at Leaching and Purification One and Two at the Chanderiya Smelting Complex. These operations form a crucial part of the company’s hydrometallurgy process and directly influence zinc production throughput and product quality.
The initiative is being led by Tanya Singh, Plant Manager – Hydro L&P One, who will guide the team in strengthening operational excellence while upholding Hindustan Zinc’s safety-first culture.
Over the past few years, the company has expanded opportunities for women across mining and metal operations—from underground mining and smelting to digital control rooms and leadership roles. These efforts align with the Vedanta Group’s vision of achieving 35 percent women representation in its workforce, with Hindustan Zinc playing a key role in advancing this goal within the sector.
Arun Misra, CEO and Whole-Time Director of Hindustan Zinc, said, “We believe the future of mining will be driven by diverse talent, advanced technology, and an inclusive culture. The launch of Tejaswini reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women in core operational roles that power industrial performance. By enabling women to lead critical processes in our smelting operations, we are strengthening our talent pipeline while demonstrating that leadership and capability extend beyond traditional industry boundaries. As we move toward our long-term growth goals, such initiatives will help build a more progressive and future-ready mining sector.”
As India accelerates its goals in infrastructure, clean energy, and industrial growth, Hindustan Zinc continues to demonstrate how inclusive workplaces can drive operational excellence and innovation. Through initiatives like Tejaswini and sustained investments in people-centric policies, the company is setting new benchmarks for the metals and mining industry.
The company has also launched India’s first underground all-women mine rescue team, enabled women engineers to lead night shifts, tele-remote mining operations, and smelting control rooms, and strengthened workplace infrastructure through measures such as V-Safe app integration, CCTV surveillance, biometric access systems, women security personnel, and night transportation facilities. These steps aim to ensure that employees can work with confidence, safety, and leadership while building a more diverse and future-ready workforce.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
