UditVani, Jamshedpur: Tata Steel, under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), hosted a day-long conclave on “Women in Mining” in Ranchi, bringing together key regulators, industry leaders, and women professionals to deliberate on the rapidly evolving landscape of gender diversity in the mining sector.
Centred on the theme “Transforming Today, Redefining Tomorrow,” the conclave comes in the wake of the recent labour reform under the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, which now permits women to work in both underground and opencast mines. This policy shift has accelerated efforts across India’s mining industry to integrate women into core operational roles.
The inaugural session was addressed by senior dignitaries, including Ujjwal Tah, Director General, DGMS; Dr. Shyam Sundar Prasad and Vir Pratap Singh, both Deputy Directors General, DGMS; Shankar Nagachari, Director, CMPDIL; and Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, Director, Hindustan Copper Ltd. Key representatives from Tata Steel present included Sanjay Rajoria, GM (Coal); Atul Kumar Bhatnagar, GM (OMQ); Jaya Singh Panda, Chief Diversity Officer; and D. Vijayendra, Chief, Noamundi Iron Mine. Meghana Ghosh from the Women in Mining Forum India Chapter also participated.
Presentations by leading mining and resource companies, including Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Coal India Limited, Hindustan Zinc, NTPC, SCCL, Lloyds Metals, JSW Steel, and WIM highlighted initiatives to strengthen women’s participation in the workforce. Women professionals shared inspiring accounts of their journeys and achievements in the sector.
A special felicitation ceremony honoured women teams and presenters for their contributions within their respective organizations.
A panel discussion featuring senior women leaders from Tata Steel, HZL, SCCL, and DGMS focused on scaling gender diversity, nurturing leadership, enabling retention, and building safe, inclusive workplaces.
The conclave also explored critical themes: gender-inclusive mining policies, leadership pathways for women, reskilling for future-ready roles, safe work environments, opportunities for tribal and rural women, young women breaking stereotypes, and the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in shaping an equitable mining ecosystem.
Leaders speaking at the event reiterated the importance of creating an enabling environment for women and gender-diverse individuals to thrive in mining. Tata Steel reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive and future-ready mining operations.
The event concluded with an open session and closing remarks, underscoring the need for sustained collaboration among regulators, industry, and communities to build a truly gender-inclusive mining landscape.
