Jan 2025 at the Lab: Welcome 2025 & More?

We’re so excited to welcome a new year with you. Our resolution: less coffee. Okay, fine, we broke it on January 2. But we’re going to keep our other resolution - to strive ceaselessly for a more inclusive workplace and world - with a vengeance.

In this new year’s letter, you’re getting:?

1. An exciting announcement [hint: it’s about snacks] [hint hint: that means a brand-new event]?
2. The lowdown on what the Godrej Industries Group has been up to, DEI-wise?
3. And a golden jalebi, a podcast recommendation, and a ready reckoner about consent.??

MAIN STORY

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Carolling season is over, which means Q4 is on. We know it’s a busy time, so we tried our best not to make it too much fun – and failed. On Tuesday, February 4, you’re invited to our next public event, “India’s Queer Futures,” at Godrej One in Vikhroli, Mumbai.? We’re collaborating with our cherished allies, Dasra and the Keshav Suri Foundation. Expect art, performances, reflections on the LGBTQIA+ landscape and paths to progress. We have a MAJOR announcement to make at the event: more details about that soon. We hope you’ll be there. Register here or RSVP to [email protected]. Plus: snacks.??

We’re also preparing for a second major event on Friday, March 7, but we'll keep that powder dry for now. However, since you’re our friends, we’re opening to a few early-bird sign-ups right away. Please put your name down here, or reply to this email for more information.??

QUIZ

The PoSH Act 2013 requires companies with ‘x’ or more employees to form an Internal Complaint Committee to address complaints of sexual harassment confidentially and fairly.?What number does ‘x’ represent?

A. 50

B. 10

C. 5

D. 25

Scroll down to see if you got it right!

“Culture is about two things — One, it must be physically possible for PwDs to be in your organisation - the ramp, gender neutral washroom, and all other kind of accessibility ranging from machines, equipments, data, software, or the training room. Think about this, if we enter your training room and there's a person who is hearing impaired, will there be an sign language interpreter? The second aspect is awareness and sensitivity, and that's where sensitisation sessions comes in through different forms. For instance, in our hotels, we have staff who knows Indian sign language. It’s about equipping people, it’s about bringing them knowledge and awareness, and it’s about setting up a system.”? — Aradhana Lal (Sustainability & ESG at Lemon Tree Hotels) speaking on what accessible culture entails at Godrej One in Mumbai

NEWS FROM US

What The Group’s Been Up To

• Workplace Inclusion and Disability Rights in India: On December 3rd, 2024, to mark IDPwD, the Lab co-organised this event and hosted it at our Godrej One campus located in Vikhroli, Mumbai. Our partners were the renowned law firm Khaitan and Co, who extended their legal expertise towards naming and explaining legal frameworks centering rights of people with disabilities.?Read their updated handbook on Indian law and disability rights, which we launched at the event, here.?
• The road ahead: Nisaba Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Consumer Products, spoke to The Economic Times about our ‘Vision 2040’ – among other things, a vision that sees inclusion as fundamental to the future. ICYMI, read the interview here.?
• Capital cool: Godrej Capital recently celebrated one year of ENABLE – their ERG for employees with disabilities. We loved the opening remarks by GC’s MD, Manish Shah – you may remember him from his beautiful explanation of the logic of disability inclusion in our film ‘Access/Ability.’ The panel that followed was a blockbuster, but of course we’d say that: our own Parmesh and Pulakita were part of it, along with GC’s Aseem Agrawal. They were fabulously moderated by CHRO Bhavya Mishra. Also: Bhavya also represented Godrej Capital as a panellist at Capgemini’s event celebrating their SheLeads - Women in Leadership programme.?
• Pride @ Properties: Read what Erish P. has to say about their amazing experience at Godrej Properties’ internship programme for early-career LGBTQIA+ professionals.??
• Feeling better already: The Godrej Industries Group has been recognised with a prestigious Hall of Fame award, in recognition of its contributions to workplace health. Shoutout to our colleagues at our Health Centre, true life-savers.???
• Colouring 2025 pink: For Godrej Consumer Products in Argentina, commitment to women’s health and progress goes beyond any specific month. They have been creating lasting impact through year-round awareness and ensuring women have access to the life-saving tools they need for early detection for breast cancer by providing mammograms, making early breast cancer detection accessible.?
• Sustainability success Godrej Consumer Products is recognised on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2024 for Emerging Markets; and on the DJSI World Index for Consumer Goods, ranking among the top 3 global FMCG companies. Good and green? More like gold and green.??
• Back to school: Mallika Mutreja, Chief Human Resource Officer at Godrej Agrovet, took a masterclass about organisational and workforce productivity at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. (She’s also a proud alumna.) She also shared her remarkable professional journey, filled with insights and lessons that resonated deeply with aspiring leaders. We loved every minute.?

PICTURE TIME: CONSENT CIRCLE

IN MORE NEWS

DEI Around India & The World

• CFA’s ‘Mind the Gender Gap’ report shows that women directors constitute only 18.4% of the board director positions in India. Overall women make up only 20% of the workforce.?
• Shweta Singh covers the story of Kaveri D’Souza, a transwoman making her way into the male-dominated world of autodrivers in Karnataka. Read her inspiring story in Feminism in India here.?
• Sex workers in Belgium gain historic labour rights as a new law takes effect, widely recognised as “transformative.” It provides for maternity rights, pension, and safety from exploitation.??
• Up in Delhi, the Rainbow Lit Fest came back in December for its third annual edition to award the best of LGBTQIA+ journalism, literature & more. Check out the list of winners here.?
• Our friends at Gaysi Family turned 16! A part of the celebration included three trailblazers from the LGBTQIA+ community being awarded the ‘Golden Jalebi Award.’ They are (drum rolls :p) — Chayanika Shah, Vikram and our own Parmesh Shahani.?
• In an affirmative ruling, The Karnataka High Court directed the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) to provide a reservation of 0.5% to transgender persons (half the percentage of reservation provided for TGs in employment in State) with fee waiver.?
• As part of its ‘Women@Mines’ initiative, Tata Steel has employed an all women shift in one of their mines in Jharkhand’s Naomandi, the first of its kind in India. This follows up on ‘Tejaswini’ initiative, which trained women in operating heavy machinery.?

GODREJ ONE BOOK CLUB

Rethinking Disability in India

by Anita Ghai

In December, we lost Prof. Anita Ghai, a trailblazing intersectional feminist who contributed significantly to the discourse of critical disability rights in India vis-a-vis the feminist movement. To honour her work and legacy, we're recommending one of her major works, Rethinking Disability in India. It explores disability in India as a social, cultural and political phenomenon, and seeks acceptance in the diverse fabric of Indian society. Her argument that disability is more than a personal identity allows for focus on structural change – from community-based to organisational to national and beyond. Check it out here and you can read more of Dr. Ghai’s work here. Also: Read this heartfelt letter from Tanmoy, remembering his friend in solidarity.?

FOOTER

Quiz Answer: B. 10??

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly called the PoSH Act, mandates every organisation that has ten or more employees to formulate an Internal Committee (IC) to receive and redress complaints of sexual harassment against women at workplace. You can read more about this law, ICC and its mandates here.?

• Listen: The podcast ‘Making Gay History’ aims to encourage connection, pride, and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community. It also provides an entry point for both allies and the public to its largely hidden history. Check it out here and browse through their educational resources on LGBTQIA+ community here.??
• Go: If you happen to be in Chennai, do not miss out on ‘Museum of Possibilities,’ a demonstration centre for Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities across life domains. Explore their website here. (At the Lab, we are manifesting a team retreat to Chennai :p)?
• Check: We’re also reading the ‘O Womaniya Report 2024,’ which breaks down how women are represented in Indian entertainment industries. It's the reality check our pop culture deserves. Read, and check the ‘O Womaniya' toolkit, a solution driven approach for gender equality in the industry here.

Contributors: Harshvardhan Bhaskar, Pulakita Mayekar, Rajeev Anand Kushwah, Gayatri Shabhag, Roshni Iyer, Surabhi Debnath, Rolie Breja, Supriya Nair, and Yukta Chaudhari.

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