Jamshedpur: Tata Steel on Monday operationalised its first all-woman shift at the Noamundi iron ore mine in West Singhbhum.
The shift comprises women employees who manage all mining operations, including heavy earth moving machinery (HEMM), loader, shovel, drill, and dozer operations, along with shift supervision.
The company's "Tejaswani" initiative further enhanced this progress by recruiting and training local women to operate HEMM and participate in mining operations.
During the launch, Shyam Sundar Prasad, deputy director general, mines safety, south eastern region, Ranchi, highlighted the govt's commitment to workplace progression, noting that the 2019 DGMS decision to allow women in all mining shifts was crucial.
B Sundara Raman, vice-president, raw material, Tata Steel, called the all-women shift a landmark achievement for both Tata Steel and India's mining industry. "It demonstrates women's resilience in breaking stereotypes," he added.
The Noamundi mine had earlier this year also inducted nine transgender HEMM operators, further advancing its workplace diversity initiatives.