We actively seek to diversify our team by inclusive hiring practices that are free from gender or region biases.
India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, with its GDP expected to grow from $2.4 trillion to $4.3 trillion by 2025.
Amarnath Ramachandran
Managing Director, ARX Mining & Construction Equipment
How do you see the role of women evolving in the construction equipment industry?
India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, with its GDP expected to grow from $2.4 trillion to $4.3 trillion by 2025. However, despite this robust economic growth, the contribution of industrial manufacturing to GDP has remained stagnant at around 16% since 2005.
To achieve the target of increasing the share of industrial manufacturing to 25%, significant investments in infrastructure and technology will be required. A key factor to achieve this is a focus on workforce development, particularly by integrating women into manufacturing roles at all levels. From shopfloors to leadership positions. Women represent a largely untapped resource, and their inclusion will be critical for driving innovation and productivity in the sector
What are the key challenges women face in this traditionally male-dominated sector?
In the past, work on remote sites where housing quarters and sanitation facilities were limited, companies preferred to retain male employees. Today, site and safety conditions and workplace standards have improved vastly. In Kalimantan, Borneo, there are mines where all the dumper operators are women. According to the supervisor there, they tend to maintain vehicles much better as they drive carefully and were far more disciplined and systematic on maintenance procedures. Today, as we are looking to double coal production, increase road networks, the requirement and potential to work in the construction and mining sites in stores, service, operator and managerial roles has a huge potential.
What steps has your company taken to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the workforce?
Arx is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud to have employees from various Indian states. We actively seek to diversify our team by inclusive hiring practices that are free from gender or region biases. The focus is to keep a balanced talent pool. Arx is a start-up with a small group of people and we promote open communication and a flat hierarchy. We believe that
These initiatives demonstrate that even smaller companies can take meaningful steps to foster a more inclusive workplace while contributing to broader industry efforts to close the gender gap in manufacturing.
Would you like to add any further insights or suggestions on women empowerment in the construction equipment industry?
The CE industry has traditionally been male-dominated, with women comprising only a small portion of the workforce. However, efforts are being made to challenge this norm. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Cummins India, have taken proactive steps like sponsored a women’s college and actively recruit graduates. Similarly, other companies have introduced initiatives aimed at breaking gender stereotypes. These efforts focus on identifying and promoting women into managerial roles, encouraging more women to pursue careers in the CE sector.
Additionally, the media and trade publications can further support this progress by consistently showcasing and celebrating the achievements of women in the industry. This visibility will also inspire and encourage young girls to pursue careers from an early age.
