Gender equality, inclusivity and sustainability are no longer mere compliance matters but are increasingly being viewed as actual performance indicators for any business. The automotive industry is no exception to this paradigm. Being such a highly competitive and dynamic space, the industry pushes its players to think and go beyond the normal line of business with innovations, technological advancements and integrate a strong sense of social & environmental consciousness.
MG Motor India has emerged as a frontrunner in the automotive industry in a rather short span of time- not only in terms of market metrics but also with regards to their initiatives towards ensuring equality and sustainability in their business. With a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility, MG Motor India has not only transformed the way we perceive automobiles but has also set a commendable example for the entire industry.
In this exclusive interview with Mr. Yeshwinder Patial, Senior Director, Human Resources, MG Motor India, we explore the vision behind their "Drive Her Back" program which is designed to help women restart their careers after a break. We also discuss their women-centric initiatives, their CSR focus areas, and their steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability. Moreover, we gain insights into their implementation partners, while uncovering MG Motor India's future plans regarding CSR and their proactive stance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
Scroll down to read the full interview:
Q. What led you to conceptualise the “Drive Her Back” Campaign? What are the main features of this initiative, e.g., re-skilling or upskilling, flexible work, networking, etc?
A. Industry estimates indicate that many women tend to pause their careers due to maternity, mobility and childcare. To bridge this gap and promote a smoother transition for women returning to work after a career break, MG introduced the ‘DriveHerBack’ program. Launched in 2019, ‘DriveHerBack’ is a one-year returnee-ship programme which acts as a platform for experienced and qualified women to resume their careers. As part of this distinctive program, women receive coaching and mentoring for re-transitioning into the corporate setting. They are familiarized with the organization, given opportunities to upskill with the employee development programs, get to work in a hybrid work model and have perks at par with the industry standards. The initiative offers networking prospects and professional development opportunities to all participants. 'Drive Her Back' has received more than 1,500 applications, empowering over 60 women to embark on their professional journeys in various domains at MG Motor India so far.
Q. Could you share with us a few of the most inspirational examples of beneficiaries of the Drive Her Back initiative?
A. Certainly. We hired a candidate with an engineering background but experience in education, for the role of Production Group Leader through ‘Drive Her Back’. She had her own reasons to pause her career and we assessed her based on her willingness to learn and grow. So, despite emerging from a non-manufacturing background, now she leads a team of 40 associates in her current role with us.
Q. Given your experience in getting women back to the workplace, what suggestions would you give to:
- Companies- How do they retain their best female employees and/or get more qualified women on board- returnees or otherwise.
It is crucial to foster an environment where women feel empowered, heard, and respected. I believe that implementing leadership and returnee-ship programs tailored for women not only helps in their professional growth but also showcases the organization's commitment to nurturing their talent. At MG Motor India, we have been focusing on the creation of a more equal and diverse workplace, with Diversity and Inclusion being one of our core pillars. We have successfully integrated 37% of women employees into our workforce including the factory and aim to achieve the 50% gender diversity balance in the coming years.
- Women- How should they prepare themselves to rebuild a rewarding career after a break?
It is crucial for women to reflect on their skills, strengths, and interests. They can assess their previous work experiences and identify areas where they excelled or enjoyed the most– it will help them understand their career goals and align them with their passion and expertise. Upgrading skills is equally important to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. Women should consider enrolling in training programs, online courses, or workshops to enhance their knowledge and acquire new skills that are in demand in their respective industries.
Q. MG Motor also has other women centric initiatives like Prerna and construction of a girl’s hostel. Which factors led you to undertake these initiatives and what has the outcome been like?
A. Through MG Sewa's commitment to 'Community' and 'Empowerment’,we introduced a year-long Skill Development program – ‘Prerna’ with an objective of providing training to 100 socially disadvantaged womenbyequipping them with essential skills. This initiative has helped numerous women to attain sustainable meansof livelihood.
Additionally, we have embarked on a myriad of initiatives to bolster our diversity ratio and further strengthen our ecosystem for female employees. Weinaugurated a new 350-member hostel facility near our manufacturing facility in Halol for housing MG’s female associate employees and providing them with housekeeping, food, and transportation facilities among others. Such initiatives not only enhance our commitment to diversity but also strengthen our ecosystem, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for our valued female employees.
Q. What are the primary focus areas of MG Motor India with respect to CSR in India? Which are the flagship initiatives under each of these areas?
A. MG established its presence in India with a community driven approach. MG Motor India has several primary focus areas for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives in the country. Here are the key focus areas and flagship initiatives:
Community Development:
MG Sewa: MG Sewa drives all-encompassing initiatives to empower everyone from underserved communities to economically challenged sections of our society. This initiative aims to uplift the underprivileged through programs focused on education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and skill development. Below are some programs under our Sewa (there are other initiatives too)-
- Prerna: MG partnered with Baroda Citizens Council for ‘Prerna’, a one-year Skill Development program and trained 100 women from humble backgrounds to create a financial platform for them and their families in the long-run. This initiative helped women train and develop skills to attain a better livelihood.
- MG Sewa Sarthi: Under the initiative, ‘Sewa Sarthi’, MG empowered 75 women from Vadodara district, in partnership with Wings to Fly NGO and Vadodara Police, by providing them a platform to learn driving skills along with basic soft skills training.
- MG Changemakers: MG Changemakers was first introduced in 2018 to recognize and honour the spirit of women who inspire societal change and build a community of changemakers from across the country. Since then, the initiative has accredited multiple women who work to improve their communities and empower individuals.
Diversity and Inclusion:
- DriveHerBack Program: The first-of-its-kind program offers women equal and inclusive professional opportunities within diverse verticals of the company. This distinctive initiative focuses on supporting women through coaching and internal mentoring, facilitating their smooth transition into the corporate environment. The program encompasses essential components such as valuable networking prospects and comprehensive professional development for all participants.
Skill Development:
- MG Nurture: Under the MG Nurture initiative, a student enhancement, engagement and development program, MG Motor India has recently entered in Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 22 colleges, with a vision to enhance the skills of more than 25,000 students over the course of four years with an aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry and aim to further expand it.
We have also collaborated with Skill Lync for a Holistic Skill Development Programme which will be conducted in close association with Technical Institutes, it also includes Campus to Corporate program to help the students in honing their soft skills and support in their smooth transition.
Furthermore, in collaboration with Vadodara Marathon, we offered observer-ship and assistance to 100 medical students who had to returned due to ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Q. Who are your key implementation partners for your major initiatives? What parameters do you expect your partners to fulfill when they collaborate with your organisation?
A. At MG Motor India, we value collaboration and strategic partnerships to drive our major initiatives forward. We have established key implementation partners across various sectors who share our vision and goals. We look for partners who align with our core values and are committed to social responsibility and have a deep understanding of the communities we aim to serve. We have collaborated with several organizations to contribute to various social initiatives focused on women empowerment, skill development, and supporting community initiatives, i.e., we have tied up with Bhartiya Community Center (BCC) & Savera Girls to upskill and train engineering students in advanced technologies and industrial practice, for Vadodara Marathon to inspire a healthy and active lifestyle among individuals and foster community spirit and for Wings to Fly; Vadodara Police to support the training of women in driving. We collaborated with IIMPACT NGO in the NCR region for study centers across the rural regions to ensure education for female children. We are also in contact with Udayan Care in Vadodara and Gurgaon for a program called ‘Udayan Shalini’ which focuses on empowering young women and preparing them for a sustainable livelihood.
Q. Environmental sustainability is rapidly becoming a crucial component of business strategy, more so for sectors like automotives. What are the most important steps taken by MG Motor India in this direction?
A. We have always been vocal about creating a sustainable automotive industry in India and have been at the forefront of implementing sustainability initiatives. We partnered with CleanMax to emerge as the first passenger car manufacturer to use wind-solar hybrid power at our manufacturing unit in Halol. This was done via CleanMax’s Rajkot-based plant which met 50 per cent of our plant’s total requirement, leading to usage of 4.85 MW of renewable energy, resulting in reduction of 2 lakh MT of carbon dioxide in 15 years. This is equivalent to planting over 13 lakh trees.
Our partnership with PPG Asian Paints to launch a technology that can enable carbon dioxide reduction of 1500 tons/annum is another step towards energy conservation and sustainability. Our recent initiative- Enviro Wash- promotes dry car washing, encouraging people to save up to 14 lakh litres of water per month. For EVs, we have teamed up with Attero to reuse and recycle Li-ion batteries of electric vehicles in India. Our collaboration with TES-AMM also ensures environmentally sustainable and secured recycling of EV batteries in the country.
With a firm focus on sustainable mobility, MG is committed to continuously advancing its efforts to promote greener transportation solutions.
Q. MG Motor became operational in India fairly recently. The company will most likely witness a steep growth curve in the medium future. How do you see your CSR and ESG strategies evolving in tandem with the rapidly growing business?
A. At MG Motor India, we view CSR and ESG strategies as integral components of our business growth and sustainability. We will continue to refine and expand our community initiatives to address the evolving needs of the communities and stakeholders we serve. We aim to enhance our partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders to maximize the impact of our community initiatives and foster long-term sustainable development. We will continue to focus on strengthening our environmental performance while enhancing our social initiatives, including diversity and inclusion programs, employee well-being, and community engagement, to ensure a positive impact on our workforce and society. We remain committed to integrating sustainable and responsible practices into every aspect of our operations, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on the environment, society, and our stakeholders.
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