Women's Day 2024- Shikha's Story

It’s inspiring to hear stories of being #AllYouCanBe. Shikha Saxena was the first woman engineer on night shifts in Hindalco and she has seen the shop floor transform. Here’s Shikha’s story.
I am by nature a girl who lives in her fantasy world. I used to think working means cubicles, formal clothes, a 9-to-5 job. I got a reality check on my first day at Renusagar Power Plant in 2018. Instead of a cubicle, it was a huge shopfloor with turbines and boilers; instead of formal clothes, I wore safety shoes and PPEs! There was a huge sea of men, and I was the only woman.
Then in 2019, another challenge came up. I was being assigned to the night shift. No girl had ever worked night shifts in Hindalco. Several concerns came to mind, like safety and what our parents would say. I belong to a community where women are not encouraged to pursue higher studies. Agar yeh change mujhse start hona hai, toh mein peeche kyun rahoon? I encouraged the three girls from my batch to sign the night shift consent form. I said, “Girls if you have taken up Mechanical engineering, your hands will get dirty!”
Management's trust in us and support from our colleagues- these things motivated us.
Today the shopfloor has changed dramatically. “Pehle workmen humein bhaav nahin dete they. Now they see us and immediately ask, ‘Madamji, kya kaam karna hai?’” Earlier there were no amenities - today we have everything from restrooms to sanitary pad vending machines. We have monthly conversations with management and our concerns are addressed first. There are 13 girls in Renusagar doing the night shift, dealing with manpower, and handling emergencies. Girls ne vibe change kar diya hai shop floor ki! They are leading their roles and how.
In the Plant, I am like a leader or an advocate for the women. Sabke liye mein shaayad change champion hoon. But I am just being me…Shikha.
#WomenAtHindalco #AllYouCanBe