Breaking Barriers And Building Futures

Belrise had acquired the Ferrous Foundry division of Amtek Auto in the past. This move marked a pivotal moment in our journey which immersed in the dynamic realm of manufacturing auto components for 2W, 3W, 4W, commercial vehicles, and EV solutions for esteemed OEMs across seven states including giants players like Bajaj, Tata, Honda, Jaguar, Volvo Eicher, Ashok Leyland, and Royal Enfield, all supported by a dedicated white and blue-collar workforce.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Currently, the female workforce comprises approximately 7% of the total. Belrise remains steadfast in its commitment to increasing this figure to a robust 15%. Reflecting on the past 25 years, a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been a priority, even before these concepts gained widespread recognition.

In the plastic division at Aurangabad, numerous female engineers have been actively recruited across departments ranging from production to quality assurance and procurement. Notably, women have been included in shop floor roles such as moulding and painting processes. Their sincerity, dedication, and unwavering loyalty have demonstrated the immense potential of female talent.

Challenges in the Foundry Industry

Extensive research on the representation of women in the foundry industry, encompassing both white and blue-collar roles, revealed a glaring lack of female presence within this sector. Conversations with industry experts have shown a prevailing mindset that hinders the integration of female talent into the industry.

Kolhapur, a renowned MIDC area celebrated for its foundries and textile industries, has a substantial female workforce, potentially ranging from 50 to 60%, thriving within this vibrant industrial landscape. This highlights the need to reevaluate the mindset and proactively create opportunities for female participation within the ferrous foundry sector.

Progress and Vision

In recent times, some development has been seen in the women's workforce in machine shops and core shops, but the percentage of women working in this industry is hardly 1 to 2 percent. Efforts have been spearheaded to attract more women to the workforce, with a clear vision of achieving a 15% female representation in the near future. Gratitude is extended to our MD, Mr. Shrikant Badve, and our esteemed leadership team, comprising Mr. Deepak Mahajan, Mr. Anil Kulkarni, and Mr. Vidyadhar Samant, for their steadfast support in realizing this vision.

Journey and Future Aspirations

Working in the foundry has been very exciting. Understanding and working on processes is both tangible and interesting. Technical knowledge of core, foundry, fettling, and machining activities has been gained to develop a deep understanding.

Belrise exports auto components to North America and European customers. Despite facing challenges, resilience has been demonstrated, overcoming all odds. With good teamwork, planning, and a larger presence of a women workforce, there is confidence that bigger dreams will be achieved. Resonating with the words of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: “Dream, Dream, Dream, and Dreams turn into action,” a learning aptitude is essential throughout one’s life. Passion for working in the foundry division drives the aspiration to grow and expand the business globally.

Today, women stand shoulder to shoulder with men, showcasing excellence in their respective fields. At the workplace, a collaborative approach is fostered on the shop floor, where every team member's contributions are valued and respected. Gender equality is steadfastly upheld and honored, striving to ensure a balanced and equitable distribution of opportunities and responsibilities, irrespective of gender.