In India, Durga Puja and Navratri are important cultural festivals that are also an
occasion when divine feminine strength and grace are celebrated with fervor. As the
nation prepares to pay homage to Goddess Durga, considered an embodiment of these
qualities, Vedanta Aluminium celebrates the grit and resilience of women in
manufacturing, who demonstrate the values of courage, curiosity and the drive to excel
every day. The company has embraced naari shakti or female power, as a key tenet,
reflected in its inclusive practices and policies designed for empowering women across
its operations and communities.
Across the nation, Maa Durga inspires a spirit of change and transformation. Project
Shree Shakti at Vedanta Aluminium’s mega aluminium plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha,
represents a similar revolution. For years, core operational roles in the metals and
modern manufacturing sectors were considered too physically challenging for women
professionals. Shree Shakti initiative aims to boldly tackle these misconceptions. Since
2023, many women have joined its night shift operations as Pot Tending Machine
(PTM) operators, process supervisors, and lab experts. For the first time in Odisha’s
industrial sector, women have the option of working in night shifts, giving them greater
flexibility to manage their time and career choices.
Every evening, these women head to the plant to lead advanced processes, ensure
quality checks, and supervise cutting-edge production teams. The plant infrastructure
and processes have been augmented to ensure their safety and dignity, and regular
awareness programs have been introduced to foster an inclusive environment. These
women professionals now embody the fact that technical mastery and leadership are
shaped by determination, not by gender. They are breaking stereotypes and inspiring
numerous others to believe in greater possibilities.
On the community front, Vedanta Aluminium’s Project Subhalaxmi Udyogini embodies a
similar outlook for thousands of women in Jharsuguda. Since 2008, this initiative has
tirelessly built the Subhalaxmi Cooperative, supporting over 5000 women today as they
step into previously out-of-reach zones such as entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
This is being achieved through projects such as VedMurtika, a terracotta artisans’
collective supported by Vedanta that provides structured training and sustainable
market access. Several women artisans from Naxapalli village in Jharsuguda are now
helping preserve Odisha’s cultural heritage while also earning a dignified livelihood.
Similarly, VedSuta, an initiative to encourage production and promotion of Sambalpuri
textiles, supports women in Ragunathpalli village as they carry forward a vibrant legacy.
With each saree woven, threads of empowerment, heritage and hope are interlaced into
the fabric of change.
Sensitivity: Internal (C3)
Vedanta Aluminium employs hundreds of women in core technical, operational, and
strategic roles across smelting, mining, logistics, power generation and procurement.
Each role taken up reflects a step away from outdated stereotypes and a move towards
greater inclusion and diversity. Women at Vedanta are now actively leading innovation,
contributing to major projects and driving change at every level of the organization.
As the celebrations of Durga Puja and Navratri fill homes and hearts with hope and
reverence, Vedanta Aluminium is proud to honor the enduring spirit of naari shakti.
Every empowered woman plays a direct role in shaping her future and her community.
This festive season, the company renews its dedication to nurturing and uplifting women
in all spheres, recognizing their strength and their indispensable role in building a
brighter tomorrow.
