Tata Steel Initiates All-Female Shift at the Noamundi Iron Mine in Jharkhand

At its Noamundi iron mine in Jharkhand, Tata Steel has implemented an all-female shift. The first-of-its-kind project in India, according to a statement from Tata Steel, demonstrated the company's steadfast dedication to promoting women in historically male-dominated fields and fostering an egalitarian workplace.

All mining operations during the shift, including heavy earth-moving machines (HEMM), shovel, loader, drill, dozer operators, and shift supervision, will be performed by female employees.

"This all-women shift represents a landmark achievement not only for Tata Steel but also for the Indian mining industry," said D B Sundara Ramam, vice president, raw materials, Tata Steel. "It demonstrates how resilient and capable women are of shattering prejudices. It also reflects our conviction that innovation and operational excellence are fueled by diversity and inclusion."

"We will keep expanding possibilities for women, particularly in our mining environment, and are honored to be at the forefront of this shift. The 100 illustrious years of mining at Noamundi will be significantly enhanced by this undertaking," he continued.

In 2019, after the Indian government relaxed the Mines Act of 1952, Tata Steel introduced its flagship diversity project, "Women@Mines," which made it the first corporation in India to employ women in all shifts at its mines.

Building on this, the business launched the "Tejaswini" program to hire and educate women from nearby communities to operate large earthmoving equipment.

Women from surrounding towns received extensive training and were formally inducted as HEMM operators under the "Tejaswini 2.0" program, which was introduced in 2021.

Women worked as graders, drill operators, shovel operators, dozer operators, and dumpers. Before beginning work in April 2022, they had a great deal of training, which included simulator sessions, technical and operational skills, safety procedures, and physical conditioning.

The success of "Tejaswini 2.0" opened the door for the "Tejaswini 2.1" initiative in 2022, which received over 2,100 applications and resulted in the selection of 24 operators, according to Tata Steel.