Mahindra and Mahindra: Expanding Gender Diversity in Manufacturing: The Swaraj Initiative

In Punjab’s manufacturing sector, women on the shop floor are still a rare sight. Technical training pipelines are narrow, cultural resistance is strong, and safety concerns often deter families from encouraging such careers for their daughters. Against this backdrop, Mahindra & Mahindra’s Swaraj Division (SD) and Swaraj Engines Limited (SEL) have been steadily challenging the status quo, finding creative ways to bring more women into industrial roles where they’ve long been underrepresented.

Their approach blends community outreach, training innovations, and workplace inclusion measures tailored to local realities. It hasn’t been without challenges: from infrastructure limitations to the underrepresentation of women in permanent and leadership roles, but the gains so far are striking.

This case study takes a closer look at how Swaraj is navigating these barriers, the strategies it has adopted, and the results that have reshaped its shop floors. It also explores the next steps in their journey, offering insights for other organisations looking to build a more gender-inclusive manufacturing workforce.