In March 2024, we were proud to launch Godrej Ki Shakti (GKS), our Employee Resource Group (ERG) dedicated to women in manufacturing. With 25 members across four clusters, this ERG is a critical step toward fostering inclusivity, empowerment, and opportunity for women in traditionally underrepresented roles within the manufacturing sector.
The ERG operates on three foundational pillars—Enable, Support, and Inspire — each designed to address specific needs, drive meaningful change, and build a thriving, inclusive culture.
Creating a safe and conducive work environment for women is our top priority: a key part of our ‘enable’ pillar. Through focused efforts, GKS members collaborated with the DEI team to drive positive changes in infrastructure and safety across all sites.
Infra-Safety Checklist: The DEI team developed a detailed checklist to evaluate site readiness for women employees.
Quarterly Audits: GKS members conduct quarterly audits to ensure consistent safety and infrastructure improvements.
Action Planning and Budgeting: Post-audit, site teams work with GKS to plan, budget, and implement necessary changes.
Governance and Accountability: A structured governance mechanism ensures that progress is regularly monitored and aligned with organisational goals.
To systematically address key aspects of infrastructure and hygiene, we designed a comprehensive checklist that focused on five critical parameters:
Washroom Conditions
Night Shift Support
Availability of Sanitary Napkins
Daycare Facilities
Medical Support at Sites
The quarterly audits, which are conducted across all sites, provided a clear understanding of gaps and informed our next steps. Alongside detailed action plans, budgets were proposed and approvals secured to ensure timely implementation of necessary upgrades.
“The ERG has been pivotal in fostering allyship for women to thrive through shared experiences, and drive innovation in the manufacturing sector while also bringing in inclusiveness at a fundamental level. Through mentorship, networking, and advocacy, we strive to break down barriers and create pathways for future leaders. I'm proud of the progress we've made over the last year and look forward to continuing our work to inspire, support, and elevate women in this field, creating a legacy for the future. Leading an Employee Resource Group for women in manufacturing has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, offering opportunities for growth, and collaboration for generations to come.” - Arundhati Sahoo, Deputy General Manager – Logistics
In 2024, we focused on ensuring that our workplaces maintained clean and safe washroom facilities for all. Hygiene practices were reiterated to our employees and were marked as a collective responsibility.
We also installed new sanitary vending machines at our Malanpur site and at our sites within the South cluster, addressing critical health and hygiene needs of our women employees and employees who menstruate.
We constructed a new washroom with grab bars for employees with disabilities and pregnant people at a site in the South cluster.
The ‘support’ pillar of the ERG has focused on creating a structured, supportive environment for new women joiners and existing employees across our manufacturing sites. A key initiative, the Buddy Program, was launched to offer personalised support to new women joiners at sites in north-eastern India) and Malanpur. This program pairs new recruits with experienced employees who provide guidance, mentorship, and resources to help ease their transition into the workforce. This initiative has helped deepen our mutual sense of belonging, and contributed to increased retention rates among women employees.
The ‘inspire’ pillar focuses on empowering and connecting women across our manufacturing sites. A standout initiative here, for us, has been the introduction of Shakti Circles—a safe and inclusive space for women employees to connect, share experiences, and access resources. These circles serve as a platform to strengthen relationships, foster open conversations, and create awareness around company policies and best practices that support women in the workplace.
The Shakti Circles also serve as an important channel for gathering feedback, understanding the needs of women employees, and ensuring that they have the necessary support to thrive. This initiative aligns with our goal to create a nurturing environment that promotes personal and professional growth for women in manufacturing roles.