Ola rides all-woman trend at factory – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Women finally seem to be getting a fairer deal when it comes to the shopfloor. As Ola Electric announced an “all-woman” 10,000-strong workforce at its upcoming two-wheeler factory in Chennai, this marks a growing trend where women are getting precedence even in critical and arduous manufacturing processes (see graphic).
To have women in the factories, companies are making special arrangements and taking care to have a hospitable environment — right from separate toilets to having teams taking care of diversity issues, to ensuring adequate shift hours, and ensuring transport and logistics.

Bhavish Aggarwal, the cofounder of Ola, says that decision for an all-woman workforce will ensure inclusive workforce and provide economic opportunities for ladies.
Rahul Sharma, CEO of aluminium division of Vedanta, says the company adopts a gender-neutral stance in appointments. “Women at Vedanta Aluminium have been managing unconventional roles like commercial, logistics, plant security, smelting operations, right up to operating cranes and pot tending machines.”
“Initially, we invited family members of women to the plant to see the work. We even went to their homes for awareness sessions, and participated in gram panchayats to motivate people,” an MG official said, adding that bus and canteen facilities are provided free of cost.
(With inputs from Avik Das in Bangalore)