Women of Cement

International Women’s Day is celebrated by CMA each year bringing to the fore the various roles being played by women in the Cement Industry in India, in keeping with this intent, CMA launched its initiative Women of Cement in 2022. CMA applauds and would like to highlight the women in the Cement fraternity. Women of Cement celebrates the resilience, strength and commitment of women in the Cement Industry and we call them, the Women of Cement.

International Women’s Day 2024

Aligned with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day-Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, CMA and the Member Companies continue to work towards empowering its women. Here empowerment is not just a word but a guiding principle.

As rightly said by Mr Abdul Kalam Azad, Empowering Women is a prerequisite to creating a good Nation.

At CMA, we stand firm in our commitment to gender equality and inclusivity. We have been able to create a work environment where everyone, regardless of gender, background, or identity, can thrive, grow, and succeed.

Together, we are shaping a workplace culture where every individual can thrive and reach their full potential.

Meet the Women of Cement

Manisha handles the HR function. Preparing & maintaining JD for the requirements, liaising with the consultants for recruitments for Indian, Uganda Operations & Gustoso, publishing advertisement on Naukri as well sending the JD’s to the concern consultants for all Vacancies exists in Indian Operations, African Operations as well as for other Group Companies. Screening the CV’s evaluates applicant’s skills & qualifications and shortlisting resumes of the candidates etc. Preparation of Interview Schedule, co-ordinating with candidates for their interview, preparation of offer letters /contract letters/salary break up/joining formalities/Induction Process/ Circulars / Appt. Letters/ Increment Promotions letters/ Experience and Relieving Letters for Indian, International and Indianapoli. Co-ordinating & Guiding the candidates selected for Uganda Position, by giving them prospectus, joining kit, explaining them about the 5 important documents which need to be submitted, eg:- Police Verification etc. required for processing there work permit. Performing reference check of the selected candidates. Coordinating with the Operation Manager (Indianapoli)for the schedules of interview and then scheduling interviews at the respective outlets. Preparing Agreements Letters of all the Consultants /Retainers/ Recruitment Consultants.

Ensuring manpower planning exercise is in line with the business goals of the circle, managing complete recruitment cycle, manpower cost, ensuring competitive resources are attracted in the budgted cost. Preparing job descriptions, job analysis for all positions, providing active support in the selection of Recruitment agencies which meet the corporate standard along with proper on-boarding of employees to orient with the organization, people and procedures. She identifies training needs across levels to build capabilities, through mapping of skills required for particular positions & analysis of existing level of competencies, designing, organizing training programs towards developing multi skills on need basis and their continuous up gradation as per defined standards, making an annual training calendar and implementing it. Identifying the key positions and fast track employees and drawing up a plan for on-the-job training as well grooming process for these employees. She ensures timely goal setting, helping in improvement of performance through mentoring and coaching process, facilitating performance counselling, conducting, and facilitating yearly merit ratings. She introduces and implements employee welfare facilities in the right spirit with a view to enhance employee belongingness and commitment. She ensures that policies and procedures are followed and adhered to, explains the benefits to the employees, supports in the development and improvement of the policies and benefits, enhances employee commitment through small group activities and measuring the same through employee opinion surveys. She is in charge of implementing various Employee Communication.

Rachel helps EVC in conducting and preparing YPO Meetings, Agenda and programs, following social issues like Mobile tower radiation follow up with government authorities closely work with NGO events (A. K. Munshi Yojana for which Mrs Juhi Mehta is the Ambassador), handling and visiting projects and properties of Alibag and Wada etc., liasoning with Architect, local authorities and staff. She deals with government offices and understanding of relevant legislation, policies and procedures. Handles all incoming and outgoing correspondence, reception of clients and screening telephone and personal callers, appointments for those who wish to consult the EVC directly. Arranging all the necessary information they might need for telephone calls, visitors and business trips including bookings for business or personal trips of the family along with keeping track of everyday work. Responsible for arranging social functions, parties along with bookkeeping, regular bill payment, writing minutes or drawing up reports and providing financial statements. She prepares vouchers and invoices also maintains Income tax & audit files, providing support to various audit projects. Handling EVC YPO University Programs in India and abroad. She looks after staff related issues at residence as well as their children with regards to problems with school. She keeps track of medical checkup and requirements of family and staff along with keeping a record of all art and sculpture at the residence, office and to track movement in and out of the residence. She is also incharge of ordering and shipment of various equipments to Mumbai, London and Uganda offices. Maintaining a schedule for children’s activities in India, London and Uganda and co-coordinating with teachers. Arranging IPL bookings (Flights, Hotels, Match Tickets) for the EVC, Family and friends.

Sonali handles all matters concerning board of directors, shareholders, corporate governance & legal compliance under company law. Ensuring smooth secretarial / internal / external / concurrent audit of secretarial matters and takes immediate action where lapses occur. Ensuring compliance with provisions of listing agreement & SEBI. Ensuring that all statutory returns, reports, applications are filed within statutory limits and necessary approvals are obtained. Ensuring proper documentation and reporting system with debenture trustees/ banks/ financial institutions for debentures. Facilitate & ensure all statutory compliance. Supervising preparation of legal documents such as deeds, agreements & MoUs to ensure favorable position for the company while entering into any contract with outside party. Preparing case summaries & follow up with advocates/ solicitors for timely action to ensure success in matters of concern to the company. Liasioning with registrar of Companies. Any other assignment given by management from time to time.

Shikha Dutta is the Deputy Manager at JK Cement and looks after Corporate affairs division. She is innovative and goal-oriented management professional with over 8 years of work experience in various industries including Agriculture, Food Processing, Media & Entertainment and Publishing. Before joining JK Cement she has worked with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC). Her areas of work stream includes Government Relations, Policy Advocacy, Marketing & Communication, Content Management, Relationship Management and Liaison, Research, Public Policy, and Event Management. Her experience also includes preparation/ compilation of policy reports and recommendations at timely intervals for effectively assisting government at national and regional levels to formulate policies and growth strategies. She has successfully organized various outreach campaigns in different locations like Chandigarh, New Delhi, Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Meghalaya in collaboration with different stakeholders like Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, APEDA, NABARD, State Governments, ICAR and industries. Shikha is a Science graduate and have done her MBA in Marketing and HR. She is quite passionate about yoga and fitness. She has also done a professional course in yoga.

Ms Kareena Kumari is working in Quality Control department looking after chemical section at Birla White, UltraTech Cement Limited. She did her B.Sc. (Honours) chemistry from Hindu College, Delhi University and right after completion of M.Sc.(Organic Chemistry), she got placement in Aditya Birla Group (UltraTech Cement Ltd) which was exciting as well as overwhelming for her. From being a college student to a highly professional Officer, the journey was commendable. Along with work, she is also pursuing PHD in "effect of various mineral additives and polymers on properties of Portland Cement". She is a research oriented person which was appreciated by the management at Birla White and went on to do a Doctorate under co-guidance of Dr Rajesh Singh (FH R&D). She was the first female candidate in that department and only woman in whole technical services section. It was not east to create a foothold get recognition for her work in the male dominated Cement Industry. According to her, failure is part of success, until we don’t make mistakes, we don't grow. She says, “She made mistakes but learnt from them. The platform provided by UltraTech is appreciable, being here my ideas are heard, my capabilities are never underestimated, and most importantly I feel accepted here”. The statement "You're here for diversity" should never be supported by any manufacturing industry. She loves reading books, cooking, and playing badminton. She spends time in meditating which helps her taking informed decisions.