Press Releases

Vedanta Aluminium Celebrates Women’s Week, Emphasising Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Skills Training

• The company also announced its first ever women-operated smelter line at its aluminium plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha

New Delhi, March 18^th 2025: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, successfully concluded its Women’s Week celebrations. The week featured a series of impactful events and initiatives aimed at empowering women and fostering gender inclusivity across its operations. These efforts were part of the group’s larger ‘Shakti Se Pragati’ campaign. Shakti Se Pragati is Vedanta’s commitment to empowering women as catalysts of transformation- in their lives, workplace, home, community and country. It is a celebration of their strength, resilience, and limitless potential—a journey that helps them rise, break barriers, and rewrite their futures. The highlight of the week was the launch of the company’s first ever women-operated smelter line at its aluminium plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha.

The company’s initiatives were aligned to its commitment to gender agnostic hiring and having a 30% female workforce by 2030. From skill development and launching an inclusive employee handbook, to financial literacy and self-defence training, Vedanta’s Women’s Week celebrations were designed to inspire, uplift, and support women employees, partners, and local communities. The company’s initiatives spanned various units, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and empowering environment for women across the organization and beyond.

Vedanta Aluminium launched the UnstoppabAl magazine, showcasing 12 powerful stories of women who are an integral part of Vedanta Aluminium, and introduced the Pinkbook, a comprehensive guide outlining policies for fostering diversity and inclusivity among employees. In addition to these initiatives, personalized-fit uniforms were introduced for female employees to enhance comfort and inclusivity. Gender inclusivity and women empowerment are strategically significant to aluminium manufacturing, as diverse perspectives drive innovation, boost productivity, and help create a more resilient and sustainable workforce in a highly competitive industry.

Commenting on the initiatives during Women’s Week, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we firmly believe in empowering women to reach their full potential, both personally and professionally. Our Women’s Week celebrations are a testament to our commitment to gender inclusivity and empowering women across all levels. By providing a platform for growth, skill development, and leadership, we aim to inspire the incredible women within our organization and communities, ensuring they thrive in every aspect of life.”

• At Lanjigarh, home to the world-class alumina refinery, the company organized a talk by Ms. Aparna Sharma, a veteran HR leader, who is currently serving as an Independent Director on several corporate boards and contributing as an advisor to various corporates. She conducted a session on conflict management and unconscious bias, followed by inspiring life stories from female employees. Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Vedanta Limited – Alumina Business, launched the Pinkbook, outlining policies for diverse employees. The event concluded with the felicitation of women employees, celebrating their contributions and achievements.
• At Jharsuguda, Odisha, home to the company’s mega aluminium plant, the company hosted a self-defence training session, and a leadership talk on gender inclusivity. During Women’s Week, Vedanta supported over 100 terracotta artisans, empowering women through skill development. Additionally, a ‘Being Unstoppable’ session was held to inspire personal growth among women employees. Activities like a quiz and relay race engaged young children at a government school. Additionally, an event with Subhalaxmi Co-operative, celebrated its women entrepreneurs, who are supported by Vedanta Aluminium.
• At Vedanta Aluminium’s BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh, over 400 employees and partners participated in the Women’s Week celebrations. Padmashri Shamshad Begum shared her journey of empowering 65,000+ women where over 80 women were felicitated for their excellence. Personalized-fit uniforms were introduced for female employees, and a cultural night was organized, celebrating womanhood, including transgender employees.
• At Sijimali Mines, machinery for chappal making, paper plate production, and rice milling was provided to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Gunpur village, fostering income and microenterprise development for women entrepreneurs. Around Vedanta’s coal mines, International Women’s Day was celebrated with over 2,000 SHG women across various villages, offering cultural programs, leadership discussions, and self-defence training for young girls.
• The Vizag General Cargo Berth (VGCB), an integrated port terminal in Visakhapatnam, marked International Women’s Day with 52 women from SHGs. The event included financial literacy session and interactive games, emphasizing financial empowerment and entrepreneurship, reflecting VGCB’s commitment to women’s economic independence.

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.