Vedanta Aluminium rolls out new Gender Reaffirmation Policy for LGBTQ+ employees

2024-04-28 04:05:43 Industry

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New Delhi, 7th August 2023: In a one-of-its-kind, inclusive step within the domestic manufacturing sector, Vedanta Aluminium, India\'s largest producer of aluminium, has introduced a ground-breaking \'Gender Reaffirmation Leaves and Compensation Policy\' for LGBTQ+ employees employed at its operations. The policy extends to staff members at all its locations, including its mega aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, Odisha, its world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, and its subsidiary BALCO, India\'s iconic aluminium producer based in Chhattisgarh.

The policy supports all employees contemplating the transformative journey of gender reassignment through surgery, and is a significant addition to the company\'s extensive Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) efforts. Through this, Vedanta Aluminium also seeks to inspire progressive action across the Indian manufacturing landscape, which has traditionally witnessed a low diversity ratio. Already, two transgender professionals at BALCO have availed of the support offered through the policy.

Vedanta Aluminium\'s new \'Gender Reaffirmation Leaves and Compensation Policy\' supports transgender employees with a one-time grant of 2 lakh rupees, which will help cover expenses related to gender reassignment surgery. Additionally, it offers a 30-day paid leave of absence, ensuring a comforting transition period focused on self-care to every individual who opts to avail of the policy. The company has also established world-class residential townships with several amenities for employees at each of its locations. Together, they add to the supportive environment created by Vedanta Aluminium, actively encouraging individual growth and self-discovery among its diverse employees.

Underscoring the importance of this cause, Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Ltd. - Aluminium Business said, \"At Vedanta Aluminium, we are committed to creating a workplace where each team member feels empowered to be their true selves. By ensuring that all our roles are gender-agnostic and our hiring approach remains focused only on talent and ability, we are working towards building an inclusive future for the global aluminium industry as well.\"

Mr. Dilip Sinha, CHRO, Vedanta Ltd. - Aluminium Business added, \"The new gender reaffirmation policy is an added demonstration of our commitment to fostering a workplace where diversity isn\'t just accepted but celebrated. We recognise that these journeys are deeply personal and transformative, and therefore strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment that enables each individual to express themselves in the most authentic manner possible.\"

Appreciating the initiative, Ms. Vidya Rajput, a member of the Transgender Welfare Society and the President of Chhattisgarh Mitwa Sankalp Samiti, said, \"I wholeheartedly appreciate Vedanta Aluminium\'s commitment to supporting its transgender employees in their gender reaffirmation journeys. In recognizing the significance of gender affirmation, the company stands as a pioneering business in the country, setting a remarkable example for its peers to follow.\"

Vedanta Aluminium now employs nearly 30 transgender employees across all of its locations, in diverse roles ranging from asset security to materials movement to hospitality. To ease the transgender community\'s accelerated transition from the margins of society to major manufacturing operations, Vedanta Aluminium has adopted a three-pronged approach involving:

Evaluating and identifying transgender professionals displaying the appropriate skills needed for working within a major manufacturing operation through skill mapping studies
Comprehensive skill augmentation for new recruits focused on operational skills, soft skills and business knowledge
Establishing an inclusive, enabling atmosphere through gender-sensitization sessions on the social and psychological challenges of transgender people, recommended ways of working and infrastructural augmentations

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India\'s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India\'s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the \'Metal of the Future\' for a greener tomorrow.

About Vedanta Aluminium Business:

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India\'s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India\'s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the \'Metal of the Future\' for a greener tomorrow.

About Vedanta Limited:

Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world\'s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta\'s strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company\'s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta\'s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.