Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, has deployed its first cohort of women crane pilots at its Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) unit in Korba, Chhattisgarh, advancing a women first operating model within one of the country’s most technology-‑enabled‑ smelting environments.
30 women crane pilots have been deployed, comprising 10 beam‑raising operators and 20 PTM pilots. This deployment marks a significant milestone for BALCO, coinciding with its entry into the prestigious ‘million tonne club’.
The pilots have progressed through a rigorous capability path that blends classroom instruction, simulator sessions and progressively responsible on-the-job‑ exposure. They now execute critical pot room tasks such as anode changing, covering, tapping of molten aluminium and beam raising that keep electrolytic reduction cells within tight parameters for stable and‑ continuous metal production. In addition, beam-raising activities across all potlines are now women-led, with women designated as Beam Raising In-Charge in each room.
Commenting on the development, Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Automation and advanced technologies are reshaping how modern aluminium operations function across all our units. This transformation is creating space for a new generation of highly skilled professionals to lead critical, technology-enabled‑ roles. At Vedanta Aluminium, we are proud to see women stepping confidently into these specialised positions across our operations‑. This milestone at BALCO reflects our commitment to building a future-ready workforce while fostering greater participation of women in core manufacturing‑.”
Vedanta Aluminium’s manufacturing strategy deliberately couples digitalisation and automation with inclusive workforce design, making core roles gender agnostic, expanding high skill training pathways for women, and systemically building safety, quality and productivity through human machine collaboration.
Naaz Fatima, one of the PTM pilots, said, “Working as a PTM pilot is both challenging and deeply rewarding. What I value most is that the company trusts us with these critical operations and invests in our growth. It feels empowering to know that our work directly contributes to BALCO’s progress and that we are shaping a new future for women in industrial roles.”
The deployment builds on Vedanta Aluminium’s efforts to bring in a cultural shift toward smarter, cleaner and technology driven diverse workplace. The company has previously commissioned‑ India’s first fully women-operated‑ potline at Jharsuguda; deployed an all-women‑ locomotive crew for in-plant‑ rail logistics; established an all-women‑ team at the Lanjigarh alumina refinery to run the digital command centre; launched Odisha’s first all-‑women power operations team to manage a full 135 MW thermal unit; and scaled Agnivahini, an all-‑women firefighting and emergency response squad, to reinforce site‑wide preparedness.
BALCO has also been a pioneer in integrating transgender professionals into core plant functions, beginning in 2022 with recruitment into forklift operations and security, and subsequently scaling to a larger cohort supported by gender reaffirmation policies including 30 days’ paid leave and financial assistance.‑ These efforts made BALCO one of the first industrial employers in Chhattisgarh, to induct transgender colleagues into its aluminium operations, underscoring that inclusivity is how Vedanta Aluminium functions, not a standalone initiative.
Vedanta Aluminium’s focus on increasing women’s participation across its operations aligns with the broader diversity vision of the Vedanta Group, which is working to significantly raise female representation across its units. Women currently account for 21% of its workforce, with a stated ambition to increase this to 35% in the coming years through targeted hiring, leadership development, and expanded opportunities in technical and operational roles. These initiatives reflect the company’s broader effort to make traditionally male-dominated sectors more inclusive while building a future-ready industrial workforce.
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