Roundtable on Women-Led Development in India’s Energy Sector: Paving the Way for a More Inclusive Future
New Delhi, August 7, 2024 - The Roundtable on Women-Led Development in India’s Energy Sector, was an important event focusing on enhancing female representation in this critical industry. The event brought together a distinguished group of professionals to discuss strategies for integrating women into the evolving energy sector.
The roundtable was moderated by Aparajita Bharati, Co-Founder, The Quantum Hub Consulting, Arun Sudarsan, Public Policy Manager, TQH and Shivani Kumar, Executive Director, CII Centre for Women Leadership. They joined the attendees in sharing their valuable perspectives on advancing women-led development in India's energy sector.
A key focus was on the ongoing transformation in the energy sector, which is set to grow by 6% or more in the next two decades, with a shift from traditional to renewable energy sources. While the government is focused on women-led development, with Nari Shakti at its center, it is important to post the question - how do we get women into new and upcoming sectors, and how do we upskill them to prevent the issues faced by traditional energy sectors?
The roundtable was moderated by Aparajita Bharati, Co-Founder, The Quantum Hub Consulting, Arun Sudarsan, Public Policy Manager, TQH and Shivani Kumar, Executive Director, CII Centre for Women Leadership. They joined the attendees in sharing their valuable perspectives on advancing women-led development in India's energy sector.
A key focus was on the ongoing transformation in the energy sector, which is set to grow by 6% or more in the next two decades, with a shift from traditional to renewable energy sources. While the government is focused on women-led development, with Nari Shakti at its center, it is important to post the question - how do we get women into new and upcoming sectors, and how do we upskill them to prevent the issues faced by traditional energy sectors?
Overview
Women make up less than 10% of the energy workforce, with only 7% in solar and renewable energy and even fewer in oil and gas.
Women’s representation declines at senior levels, with only 9% holding VP and CXO roles.
The gender pay gap in the energy sector is notably higher, at 15%, compared to other sectors.
Challenges
- The issue of safeguarding women at remote sites was highlighted, with concerns that workforce participation is significantly impacted if safety measures are not adequately addressed.
- There is a recognized issue with the supply of skills at the site level, which poses challenges in hiring and maintaining a skilled workforce.
- Hiring at the corporate level is less challenging compared to site-level recruitment, indicating a need for improved strategies in site-specific hiring.
- The current six-month maternity leave is often insufficient, and returning to work after motherhood presents challenges that need to be addressed.
Recommendations
Mirroring school hours has proven beneficial for women, highlighting the importance of flexible work arrangements to support their participation in the workforce.
Female hiring drives have been useful in increasing women's participation, and launching a referral scheme with incentives can further boost the hiring of women.
There is a need to focus on hiring more women into leadership roles, ensuring that safety and flexibility are prioritized in these positions.
Providing part-time employment opportunities that are well-paid is important for on-site hiring, contributing to better work-life balance and increased female participation.
Upskilling is essential to ensure that women can be part of the complete value chain in the energy sector.
Reservations for women in technical colleges such as ITI at renewable hubs was recommended to ensure gender balance in these critical areas.
Budget allocation at the organization and state level for gender-responsive infrastructure is crucial to support women’s participation and success in the sector.
There is a need for a mindset change at the leadership level to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in the energy sector.
The consensus said that the opportunity that lies in front of us is substantial, however, there is a need to leverage these opportunities for women. Therefore, it is essential to understand sectors where women can be plugged in and develop recommendations for the government on how to partner together.
The insights from the Roundtable on Women-Led Development in India’s Energy will be converted into an action plan to ensure women can contribute fully to the sector’s growth and transformation. By fostering collaboration between government and corporate sectors, and focusing on both field-specific and office-based roles, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable energy sector.
The insights from the Roundtable on Women-Led Development in India’s Energy will be converted into an action plan to ensure women can contribute fully to the sector’s growth and transformation. By fostering collaboration between government and corporate sectors, and focusing on both field-specific and office-based roles, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable energy sector.
