Hindustan Zinc commemorated International Women in Mining Day by celebrating over 740 women professionals working across its core mining and smelting operations. Women now represent 26.4 per cent of the company’s workforce, setting a strong benchmark for gender diversity in India’s metals and mining sector.

The company said women are contributing across underground mines, digital control rooms, remote operations, mine rescue teams, smelters and night shifts. Hindustan Zinc is home to one of Asia’s largest cohorts of women in mining and continues to expand women’s participation in technology-led industrial roles.

The progress has been enabled by automation, AI-based safety systems, tele-remote operations, real-time monitoring and inclusive workplace infrastructure. These interventions have helped make mining safer, smarter and more accessible for diverse talent.

Sandhya Rasakatla, First Woman Underground Mine Manager, Hindustan Zinc, said the company has built safer and smarter workplaces where women are trusted with critical responsibilities across underground operations and digital control rooms. She said her journey reflects how women can build meaningful careers in mining and inspire others to enter the sector.

Women professionals at Hindustan Zinc are contributing to remote blasting, tele-remote equipment handling, real-time monitoring systems, operational intelligence platforms, automated processes and digital control rooms. The company is also home to India’s first woman underground mining professional and introduced India’s first all-women underground mine rescue team in 2023.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said the future of mining will be shaped by both technology and the diversity of people leading it. He said the company’s ambition to reach 30% gender diversity by 2030 reflects its commitment to building a future-ready metals and mining organisation.

Hindustan Zinc said it is creating new pathways for women in roles that were once considered inaccessible in traditional mining environments. Women are now working across frontline, technical and leadership functions, supported by digital transformation and enabling infrastructure.

The company’s ‘Zinclusion’ initiative provides structured support for women and LGBTQ+ employees through targeted policies, safety systems and career development opportunities. Investments in automation, AI-based safety tools, real-time data systems and tele-remote operations are also helping create more inclusive and future-ready workplaces.

Hindustan Zinc said inclusion is not merely a workforce metric but a driver of innovation, performance and long-term growth. The company said its efforts are helping transform mining while inspiring more women to pursue careers in one of the world’s most challenging industrial sectors.