New Delhi, March 7 (Udaipur Kiran): Marking International Women’s Day, the Vedanta Group has announced a new target to increase women’s representation to 35% across all levels of the organisation. Alongside this goal, the company has launched #HerAtTheCore, a nationwide campaign and LinkedIn-led hiring drive encouraging women to build careers in sectors such as mining, metals, oil and gas, power and technology.
The move comes at a time when women’s participation in core industries remains limited. According to the Annual Survey of Industries in India, women accounted for around 18% of direct employment across industries in 2023–24, while their share in core sectors such as mining and metals is about 6%.
The #HerAtTheCore campaign aims to highlight the role of core sectors in India’s upcoming decade of industrial growth, which includes powering the global energy transition, building EV supply chains and strengthening advanced manufacturing and technology ecosystems. Despite the importance of these industries, women currently represent only a small portion of the workforce involved in building this future.
At Vedanta, women presently make up 23% of the workforce, which is significantly higher than the industry average. The campaign carries the message “6% isn’t enough and 23% is just the beginning,” highlighting both the gap and the opportunity to transform the workforce of core industries.
Commenting on the initiative, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd. and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Limited, said that India’s growth ambitions require full participation from the country’s talent pool. She stated that while women currently represent 23% of Vedanta’s workforce, the company aims to increase this to 35% and eventually 50%. She added that the company is redesigning systems, deploying advanced technologies and building support frameworks that allow women to thrive in core industries.
Technology as an Equaliser
Vedanta highlighted the role of advanced technology in creating safer and more skill-driven workplaces. Modern mining and metals operations increasingly rely on digital systems, real-time analytics, automation and remote monitoring, allowing engineers to manage complex processes while heavy physical tasks are handled by advanced machinery. This technological transformation is helping create a more balanced working environment for both men and women.
Women Taking Lead in Core Operations
Vedanta has introduced several initiatives aimed at expanding women’s participation in frontline industrial roles. At Vedanta Aluminium’s Jharsuguda operations in Odisha, an all-women team operates a complete aluminium production line. Women are also working in specialised technical roles across power generation, including teams handling locomotive and safety operations.
Following the Government of India reforms in 2019, the company deployed women engineers in underground mining operations at Hindustan Zinc Limited, marking a major shift in India’s traditionally male-dominated mining sector.
Women employees also work night shifts across several operations with enhanced safety systems and secure transport. At Cairn Oil & Gas’s Mangala Processing Terminal, women have been managing complex 24/7 hydrocarbon processing operations during night shifts since 2019.
Hindustan Zinc Limited has formed four all-women underground mine rescue teams, the first of their kind in India, which have represented the country at international competitions. Meanwhile, Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia has trained the Nchanga Ladies Mine Rescue Team, the company’s first female-led rescue unit.
At Vedanta Zinc International in South Africa, women account for 23% of the workforce, which is 3.2% higher than the national mining industry average. The company has also introduced supportive initiatives such as lactation rooms, housing support for single mothers and maternity PPE at its operations.
Support Across Life Stages
Vedanta said its inclusion strategy focuses not only on recruitment but also on long-term retention and growth of women employees. The company offers returnship programmes after maternity leave, flexible work arrangements, inclusive shift structures, spouse hiring policies in remote locations and leadership development tracks for high-potential women.
Employees also have access to integrated townships that provide housing, healthcare, education, childcare facilities and community infrastructure.
From Campaign to Careers
The #HerAtTheCore campaign, which is gaining visibility on social media platforms, invites women engineers, geologists, data scientists, operators and professionals to apply for roles across Vedanta’s businesses.
Through this initiative, the company aims to demonstrate that core sectors are evolving and that women will play a central role in shaping India’s industrial future.
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.
