International Women's Day 2024
Industry leaders give us their impressions and actions on this day
Ashok Leyland takes an unconventional route to promote gender equality
Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, released 2 new TVC’s – the first one is an unconventional route showcasing a female protagonist driving its LCV, BADA DOST, and the second on the lines of the ‘Aali Re’ anthem of Mumbai Indians, being the principal partner of the women’s team.
Mr, Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland said, “At Ashok Leyland, diversity and inclusion has always been a priority, and we have been providing equal opportunities irrespective of gender and ethnicity. Through these new campaigns, we hope to demonstrate how, in a society where gender roles are rigidly prescribed and women are frequently overlooked, these women are shattering the stereotype and achieving their goals by firmly holding onto their belief of "Koi Manzil Door Nahin. We are also proud to be the principal partner of the Mumbai Indians Women’s Team for the second year in a row. At Ashok Leyland, we recognize the importance of establishing a better gender balance, and initiatives like this create a more inclusive ecosystem."
Ashok Leyland remains dedicated to cultivating a more inclusive workforce, exemplifying its commitment through substantial investments in empowering and enhancing the skills of its women employees in core manufacturing skills.
Nexzu Mobility introduces a special offer to Celebrate International Women's Day.
As a celebration of International Women's Day, Nexzu Mobility, a sustainable and innovative urban transportation solutions provider, is extending a special offer to its female customers. As a part of the limited-period deal, female customers can purchase Rompus Plus and Bazinga EV-Cycles for discounted rates from March 8 to March 17 (10 days). The Rompus Plus, which was previously priced at INR 32,750, is now available at a discounted cost of INR 29,750. The EV cycle is an entry-level product from Nexzu’s stable designed to offer a hassle-free daily commute.
Additionally, included under the special offer is the Nexzu Bazinga EV cycle, which will now retail for INR 41,500 instead of INR 44,500. Bazinga is a gender-neutral product with a 100km extended range on a single detachable Li-ion battery that was created and designed to meet the demands of modern consumers.
Eveready sets a New Benchmark at Maddur Plant with a 55% Female Workforce
On the occasion of International Women’s Day Eveready Industries India Ltd. (EIIL), India's No. 1 battery brand with more than 50% market share in the battery category, has forged a breakthrough in its pursuit of diversity, inclusivity, and equality at its Maddur Plant unit in the Mandya district of Karnataka. With the mission of fostering an inclusive work environment, Eveready stands as an exemplar of promoting diversity across dimensions such as culture, ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, caste, age and ideas. Notably, the Maddur Plant unit sets a new benchmark with an impressive 55% women representation, showcasing the company's dedication to creating a workplace that embraces diversity at every level.
A glimpse into diversity Representation, Eveready's holistic DEI approach is evidenced by impressive statistics at its Maddur Plant with 55% women on the shop floor and 5% on staff. Notably, Eveready has these individuals have taken up leadership and managerial responsibilities underscoring their remarkable contributions to the workforce and the local economy. To empower women within the organisation, the firm is involved in many initiatives designed to advance sustainable practices, social welfare, and education, all of which contribute to the overall growth of the area. Eveready’s Maddur plant has also been recognised for its dedication to women’s development and inclusive leadership at The SheMaker Summit, a dynamic platform uniting women in manufacturing to witness, innovate, and collaborate to lead the future in the industry, which took place in August 2023 at IIM Mumbai.
Yokohama Celebrates Milestone Achievement of 1000+ women on Factory Shop Floors in India
This achievement marks a significant step forward in the company's commitment to gender diversity and inclusivity within its workforce. Yokohama group has four factories in India – one dedicated to Passenger Car Tires and three manufacturing Off-highway tyres.
Speaking of this achievement, Anil Gupta, Vice Chairman, Yokohama India said, “As we celebrate this momentous occasion, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees. With 1000 women standing strong on the factory shop floors, we hope they inspire others like them to tread the unbeaten path.”
Contrary to common perception that it’s the women from metro cities who try their hands at off-beat professions, the 1000+ women force in the factories come from small towns of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab etc. Their roles span across various functions, from production to quality control and logistics; excelling as machine operators, team leaders, technicians, and supervisors, among other positions.
MG Motor India brandishes the best diversity ratio in the Automotive Industry
The car manufacturer, which already has 31%, aims to incorporate more women in a traditionally male-dominated automotive industry and is looking to raise its women workforce to 50%.
MG has multiple initiatives towards promoting diversity in the workplace including the 'Drive Her Back' program offering a one-year returnee-ship opportunity for experienced women seeking to rejoin the workforce and the MG Womentorship program, dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs.
NueGo launches #UnloadYourWorries Campaign on International Women's Day
GreenCell Mobility's NueGo, India's leading intercity electric bus service, is proud to announce the launch of its #UnloadYourWorries campaign, which addresses the specific safety concerns of female travellers. In recent months, the number of women travellers using NueGo's services has increased significantly. This surge can be attributed to NueGo's innovative features designed specifically for its female guests, such as pink seats, live tracking, CCTV surveillance and other safety measures.
Devndra Chawla, CEO and MD of GreenCell Mobility, stated, "Women travellers tend to carry a mental burden heavier than their physical luggage—the weight of countless worries that linger in their minds long before the journey begins. NueGo's #UnloadYourWorries campaign aims to alleviate these concerns and provide our women guests with a worry-free journey, ensuring their safety and peace of mind, as well as for their loved ones."
NueGo understands women travellers' concerns and seeks to alleviate them with several industry-first initiatives at scale. By launching the #UnloadYourWorries campaign, NueGo reaffirms its commitment to women's safety and hopes to create a positive shift in brand perception among female guests.
Advancing Gender Equality in Maritime with Synergy Marine Group
Synergy Marine Group is at the forefront of transforming the maritime sector, where currently only 2% of the global workforce are women. Aligned with the UN's "Invest in women: Accelerate progress," Synergy is making significant strides not only on International Women's Day but year-round to achieve gender parity.
Central to this mission is the Diversity@Sea initiative, which includes practical onboard solutions like those on 'SOUTHERN REVERENCE', captained by Radhika Menon. This vessel is also a testing ground for real-life solutions, equipped with necessities tailored to women, including suitable sanitary facilities and reliable 24/7 Wi-Fi, as part of Synergy's broader goal to recruit 1000 female seafarers by 2027. Beyond maritime boundaries, Synergy's collaboration with Jaljeevika supports sustainable livelihoods in rural India. The Chakra Scholarship emerged from this partnership, offering young women from disadvantaged backgrounds a chance to pursue maritime careers, and providing comprehensive educational support to navigate their journey in the Merchant Navy.
These initiatives represent Synergy's dual commitment to diversifying the maritime industry and empowering rural communities through education and sustainable development. By integrating tangible metrics of progress, personal stories of impact, and a clear vision for the future, Synergy not only showcases its accomplishments but also inspires continued support and involvement in these transformative efforts.
Hyundai Motor India Foundation’s Drive4Progress initiative facilitates employment of 250 women drivers
Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the philanthropic arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ‘Navjyoti Transforming Lives & Careers Society’ NGO and BluSmart, India’s largest EV ride-hailing service and charging infrastructure network, employing 250 trained women drivers who are the beneficiaries of HMIF’s ‘Drive4Progress’ initiative.
This is a part of HMIF’s social initiative ‘Drive4Progress’, a driver skill development initiative aimed at providing professional driver training and employment opportunities for youth. The project, launched in October 2023, aims to cover over 1,500 youth including a minimum of 30% women, from Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal, over the next 3 years. HMIF, in collaboration with Navjyoti NGO, the implementation agency for the program, has envisaged to create a talent pool of trained drivers from Below Poverty Line (BPL) communities and equip them with the necessary skills to gain employment in the transportation sector.
Amazon launches new Alexa feature to celebrate Indian women achievers
Ahead of International Women's Day, Amazon has announced a new Alexa feature to celebrate the excellence, contribution, and notable achievements of Indian women from all fields.
By just asking, “Alexa, who is the woman of the day” on Echo smart speakers, Fire TV devices and Alexa app, users will be able to find their daily dose of motivation by learning about the inspiring stories and path-breaking journeys of women including Priya Punia, Tania Sachdev, Santhosh Yadav, K Prithika Yashini, and Muthayya Vanitha, to name a few.
TVS Motor's Social Arm Celebrates 40% Female Representation in Field Force, Empowers 60,000+ Rural Women across 5 States
Srinivasan Services Trust (SST), the social arm of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton Limited, has been working for women empowerment in the rural belts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for the past 27 years, through the formation of Women Self-help groups, and helping them sustain through interventions in diverse sectors such as training, credit linkage, livelihood programs and nudging them towards development of their community.
SST has collectivised over 60000 women into over 5000 Self-Help groups throughout their journey. Additionally, SST has actively supported financial inclusion by facilitating Rs. 85 crores through bank loans for 15,500 women, in this financial year empowering them to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours. Through these initiatives, we help women uplift themselves and their next generation hence bringing about transformative change in the communities.
One of the major livelihood interventions promoted by SST has been supporting over 10,000 livestock women farmers to achieve a sustainable income ranging from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 6000 per animal. This is achieved through a comprehensive dairy value chain program which provides timely technical support, and credit linkages through SHG and helps women to set up milk-collection centres. A success story from recent years is a partnership with Shreeja Milk Producer Company Limited, where women, collectivised and trained by SST, were supported to establish 30 women-led milk collection societies, empowering over 400 women through social entrepreneurship. Additionally, SST's support for diverse income-generating activities, such as handicrafts product-making units, promotes economic independence among women across various communities.
Zypp Electric Plans to Empower 2000 Women Riders
In celebration of International Women's Day, Zypp Electric, India's leading tech-enabled EV-as-a-service platform, announced a pioneering initiative to empower women within the green mobility sector. The company plans to deploy more than 2,000 women rider partners in 12 Months, marking a significant step towards fostering gender equality and creating empowering opportunities for women in the EV sector. Zypp Electric also plans to deploy 200K EVs in the next 24 months and is expecting industry support to onboard at least 10% i.e. 20,000 delivery partners to be women.
Zypp Electric is taking significant strides towards gender inclusivity in the electric vehicle industry. With a commitment to diversity, every new hire within the company is first open to women hires, promoting equal opportunities. To further encourage women to join as driver-partners, Zypp offers a special joining bonus of INR 2000, alongside a tailored assurance plan ensuring their safety and support. Recognizing the importance of skill development, Zypp organizes training batches specifically for women, empowering them to become mechanics or technicians within the maintenance teams. Moreover, Zypp is actively collaborating with various NGOs and impact organizations to enhance female representation in the EV sector, thereby fostering a more inclusive and equitable industry landscape.
Vistara #SheDoesItAll Celebrating Women's Strength and Resilience
Women are a constant source of inspiration – they build bonds and encourage daughters, sisters, and friends alike to chase their dreams fearlessly and fight for what they believe in. This International Women’s Day, Vistara presents #SheDoesItAll – a campaign that celebrates the strength and resilience of women. Women make for a major part of Vistara’s workforce, 44% to be precise, a number that continues to grow and soar. These incredible women are the very embodiment of empowerment in their roles as pilots, cabin crew, engineers, ground services and security staff, among others.
To pay homage to this message, Vistara released a film featuring some of their women employees from across departments, as they get ready to go out and do what they do best- lead by example. The film effortlessly captures the nuance of how women embrace their inner power to make a difference, navigate through hurdles, break barriers and inspire many others around them, including the next generation in small but powerful ways.
MediBuddy Champions Women's Health Empowerment with their latest International Women's Day Campaign- #InspireInclusion
MediBuddy, India's largest digital healthcare platform known for innovative healthcare solutions, has launched the #InspireInclusion campaign in honour of International Women’s Day. The initiative urges women to prioritise their health, advocating for positive change not only in the societal spheres but also within their personal wellness journey.
#InspireInclusion advocates extensively promoting women's health and well-being. The campaign urges for a society where women are caretakers and guardians of their own wellness. This campaign is conceptualised and produced by MediBuddy’s in-house creative team. The campaign video is titled #InspireInclusion and is 1 Minute 19 seconds in duration. The video will be amplified across all social media platforms. For more information about the #InspireInclusion campaign and MediBuddy's comprehensive healthcare services, please visit MediBuddy: Doctor Consultation
