In Ranchi, Tata Steel has taken a momentous stride towards fostering inclusivity by actively encouraging applications from candidates identifying as transgender for diverse roles across various locations, as declared by the corporation. As a prominent global steel entity, Tata Steel acknowledges the significance of shattering the metaphorical glass ceiling and integrating transgender individuals into the fabric of society.

The company’s announcement states, “Transgender candidates meeting the criteria of Matriculation in English or ITI, graduation in any discipline, or possessing a diploma in engineering from an institute recognized by AICTE or UGC, or holding a Degree in BE/B Tech from an AICTE or UGC recognized institute, are eligible to apply.” The application deadline is set for February 15. Candidates shortlisted will undergo a meticulous selection process, potentially involving written assessments and interviews based on requirements.

In February 2022, the steel behemoth expanded its transgender workforce by onboarding 12 crane operator trainees from the LGBTQ+ community at its Kalinganagar plant in Odisha. Prior to this initiative, Tata Steel’s captive mining division in Jharkhand’s West Bokaro welcomed 14 transgender individuals as operators of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) at its mines. This deliberate intervention not only broaches the unconventional topic of hiring transgender individuals for blue-collar roles but also provides a roadmap for other organizations navigating the challenging path towards true inclusivity, as per a company representative.

The groundwork for recruiting minority groups involved enhancing gender diversity ratios by incorporating more women employees into core operations before progressing towards the recruitment of transgender individuals in the mining division, the representative highlighted. Tata Steel, with a vision of achieving a 25% diverse workforce by 2025, extends its presence across five continents, boasting an employee base exceeding 77,000.