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Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO)

Aluminium Sadan, Core - 6, Scope Office Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003

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

7th August 2023
  • Introduced at all the locations of Vedanta Aluminium, the new policy provides monetary and other support to transgender employees for gender reassignment surgeries

New Delhi, 7th August 2023: In a one-of-its-kind, inclusive step within the domestic manufacturing sector, Vedanta BALCO, renowned as India’s leading aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, has introduced a ground-breaking ‘Gender Reaffirmation Leaves and Compensation Policy’ for LGBTQ+ employees employed at its operations. The policy has been introduced for staff members at all the locations of Vedanta Aluminium.

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 BALCO also seeks to inspire progressive action across the Indian manufacturing landscape, which has traditionally witnessed a low diversity ratio. Already, two transgender professionals have availed of the support offered through the policy.

Vedanta BALCO’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. Together, they add to the supportive environment created by the company, actively encouraging individual growth and self-discovery among its diverse employees.

Underscoring the significance of the initiative, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO & Wholetime Director, Vedanta BALCO said, “The policy will be a gamechanger in enhancing opportunities for the transgender community, creating an enabling environment that allows them to explore new avenues for sustainable livelihoods. Vedanta BALCO is committed to a workplace where everyone feels empowered to be their true selves, their unique strengths are harnessed, and their aspirations are nurtured.”

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 BALCO’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 employs nearly 30 transgender employees across all its locations, including 18 transgender employees from Vedanta BALCO, 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 BALCO under Vedanta Aluminium’s vision, 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.

Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, operating a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading 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. For more information, please log on to www.balcoindia.com

For more information, please contact:

Shuchi Mishra

Head – PR & Communications

BALCO

Shuchi.Mishra@vedanta.co.in

Disclaimer:

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “should” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets including the London Metal Exchange, fluctuations in interest and or exchange rates and metal prices; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, operating a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading 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. For more information, please log on to www.balcoindia.com

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, Namibia, and Australia. 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. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the 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. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award 2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com

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