~ Tata Steel’s "Women@Mines" and "Tejaswini" initiatives empower women for all roles in mining operations ~

Mumbai, December 16, 2024: Tata Steel has taken a historic step to break barriers by operationalising an all-women shift at its Noamundi Iron Mine starting today. This initiative, India’s first, underscores the Company’s unwavering commitment to creating an equitable workplace and empowering women in traditionally male-dominated industries.

This shift will comprise women employees for all the mining activities of the shift including Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM), shovel, loader, drill, dozer operators, and shift supervision.

The all-women shift was flagged off by Shri Shyam Sundar Prasad, Dy. Director General, Mines Safety, SE Region, Ranchi, Jharkhand, marking a new beginning of support of the government in promoting an equitable workplace. Shri Prasad emphasised the commitment of the government to a progressive workplace and mentioned that the decision by DGMS to permit the deployment of women in all shifts in mining in 2019 was a key step in the right direction. He also appreciated Tata Steel’s pioneering effort in taking the lead as a responsible corporate in promoting such causes. Also, present during the occasion were Shri Rakesh Rameshwar Mishra, Director Mines Safety, Chaibasa, and Shri Sudheer R, Dy. Director Mines Safety, Chaibasa.

D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Raw Material, Tata Steel, said: “This all-women shift represents a landmark achievement not only for Tata Steel but also for the Indian mining industry. It is a testament to the resilience and capability of women breaking stereotypes. It is also a reflection of our belief that diversity and inclusion are essential for driving innovation and operational excellence. We are proud to lead this change and will continue to create more opportunities for women specially in our mining ecosystem. This initiative marks a significant addition to the 100 glorious years of mining at Noamundi.”

The journey began in 2019 with the launch of Tata Steel's flagship diversity initiative, "Women@Mines," making it the first company in India to deploy women in all shifts at its mines, following the Government of India’s landmark relaxation of the Mines Act, 1952. Building on this, the Company introduced the “Tejaswini” initiative, aimed at recruiting and training women from local communities to operate Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) and participate in the mining ecosystem.

Under the “Tejaswini 2.0” programme launched in 2021, women from nearby communities were rigorously trained and inducted as HEMM operators. The initiative was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and women were deployed across roles such as dumper, shovel, dozer, grader, and drill operators. They underwent extensive training, including technical and operational skills, simulator sessions, safety protocols, and physical fitness, before joining the workforce in April 2022.

The success of “Tejaswini 2.0” paved the way for the “Tejaswini 2.1” programme in 2022, which attracted over 2100 applications, culminating in the selection of 24 operators.

In a groundbreaking move earlier this year, Noamundi Mine further diversified its workforce by inducting 9 transgender HEMM operators, reinforcing Tata Steel’s commitment to inclusion and equality.

Tata Steel has been recognised with the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023 and most recently recognised as a Gold Employer by the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) 2024 for the fourth consecutive year for its unwavering commitment to LGBT+ inclusion. Tata Steel has also achieved 20% diversity in its India workforce.

Disclaimer

Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.

For queries and information

Sarvesh Kumar,
Chief Corporate Communications, Tata Steel,
E-mail : sarvesh.kumar@tatasteel.com

About Tata Steel

• Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum.
• It is one of the world's most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world.
• The group recorded a consolidated turnover of around US$27.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
• A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Limited, together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 78,000.
• Tata Steel has announced its major sustainability objectives including Net Zero by 2045.
• The Company has been on a multi-year digital-enabled business transformation journey intending to be the leader in ‘Digital Steel making’. The Company has received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden Plants. Tata Steel has also been recognised with the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 by Economic Times CIO.
• The Company has been recognised with the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023.
• The Company has been a part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016.
• Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Plant is India’s first site to receive ResponsibleSteel^TM Certification. Subsequently, its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants have also received the certification. In India, Tata Steel now has more than 90% of its steel production from ResponsibleSteel^TM certified sites.
• Received Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, 2024 Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for seven years in a row, 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP, Top performer in Iron and Steel sector in Dun & Bradstreet's India's top 500 companies 2022, Ranked as the 2024 most valuable Mining and Metals brand in India by Brand Finance, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2021 from Ethisphere Institute, and ‘Best Corporate for Promotion of Sports’ recognition at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2024.
• Received the 2023 Global ERM (Enterprise Risk Management) Award of Distinction at the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, ‘Masters of Risk’ - Metals & Mining Sector recognition at The India Risk Management Awards for the eighth consecutive year, and ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023 for its first Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), Excellence in Financial Reporting FY20 from ICAI, among several others.

Photographs: Management and Plant facilities

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Website: www.tatasteel.com and www.wealsomaketomorrow.com

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