India’s growth story hinges on innovation, but the country continues to face a critical gap in the participation of women in STEM—especially in leadership roles. Bridging this divide requires more than financial aid; it demands structural change and industry-backed mentorship. Jagannath Prasad Routray, CEO of Runaya’s Recycling Business, speaks about how the Runaya Reach Scholarship is designed to do exactly that. Rooted in education, empowerment, and sustainability, the initiative blends academic support with immersive industry exposure to prepare women engineers for leadership in core manufacturing sectors. By embedding diversity and circular economy principles into its very framework, Runaya is sending a clear signal: women are not just contributors but essential drivers of India’s technological and industrial future.
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Q. What inspired Runaya to specifically target women in STEM through the Reach Scholarship, and how does this fit into your broader CSR philosophy?
A. At Runaya, we believe that the most powerful innovations are born when diversity is embedded into every layer of the workforce. Women make up 55 percent of our team. Their presence in technical, operational, and leadership roles has consistently driven stronger and more forward-looking outcomes. However, the larger industry continues to face a significant gap when it comes to the participation of women in STEM, particularly in leadership positions. The Runaya Reach Scholarship is designed to bridge this divide by equipping aspiring women engineers with structured academic support and a direct pathway into industry roles.
This initiative is deeply aligned with the ethos of Runaya Reach, our CSR arm, rooted in the pillars of education, empowerment, and environmental sustainability. With projects like Education Infrastructure Transformation Program and Runaya Scholarship Programme, under Project Laadli and Environmental stewardship under Project Samvriddhi have created measurable social impact at the community level. The scholarship represents our commitment to systemic change within STEM. More than providing a financial support, it’s about sending a strong signal that women are central to driving India’s technological and industrial growth.
Q. How do you intend to balance the scholarship’s academic support with meaningful, hands-on industry exposure that equips students for leadership roles in engineering fields?
A. The Runaya Reach Scholarship has been designed to bridge the traditional gap between academic learning and industry readiness. Students selected for the programme will be placed in internship positions at Runaya’s cutting-edge facilities, where they will work alongside professionals on live projects. This ensures that they gain first-hand experience of how large-scale operations in advanced manufacturing are executed. Beyond technical exposure, students will also be paired with mentors from senior leadership who can guide them on leadership skills, problem-solving, and career pathways. Several reports underscore that the participation of women in STEM in India continues to be limited, with representation not exceeding 20–25% as of 2023–24. Hence, we recognise that academic achievement alone cannot prepare students for the realities of leadership roles in engineering. For this reason, the scholarship integrates academic and financial support with structured exposure to Runaya’s facilities, projects, and leadership mentorship.
This dual approach helps balance theory with practice. It equips scholars not only with subject matter expertise but also with the critical thinking and decision-making skills required to lead in core industries. By combining classroom learning with immersive industry engagement, the programme prepares participants to transition smoothly into leadership roles.
Q. Given Runaya’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy, how are you incorporating these values into the mentorship and training aspects of the scholarship program?
A. Sustainability is not just a strategic focus for Runaya, it is central to our operating model. The Runaya Reach Scholarship reflects this ethos by embedding sustainability into the academic-to-industry pathway we are creating for women engineers.
Our projects in demonstrate how circular economy principles can drive efficiency and innovation in heavy industry.
Through internships and mentorship, students will be introduced to the real-world applications of innovation and circular economy models. They will have a broad opportunity to engage across a diverse portfolio of businesses, encompassing minor metal recovery, aluminium recycling, ground support solutions and telecom-grade FRP & ARP rods.
For instance, they will learn how waste streams from one process can serve as inputs for another, reducing environmental impact while creating commercial value. Scholars will gain exposure to Runaya’s ongoing projects in circular manufacturing, ground support systems, and fibre-reinforced rods, which demonstrate the practical intersections of sustainability, innovation, and profitability.
Mentorship will also focus on the mindset required to balance business growth with environmental responsibility. Leaders at Runaya will work closely with scholars to show how innovation in engineering can simultaneously address pressing ecological challenges. By positioning sustainability as a core professional value rather than an ancillary responsibility, the programme will equip the next generation of women engineers to become leaders who can shape both industry and society.
Q. Could you share any baseline goals or metrics that Runaya will use to measure the program’s success, both in terms of individual student growth and systemic gender equity outcomes?
A. Runaya Reach has been conceptualised with clear objectives in mind, both at the level of individual impact and broader systemic change. At the individual level, success will be tracked through the academic performance, internship outcomes, and career progression of each scholar. Metrics such as graduation rates, placements into core engineering roles, and the acquisition of leadership opportunities in the first five years of their careers will serve as important indicators.
At a systemic level, we aim to measure the programme’s contribution to gender equity in STEM. The long-term goal is to see more women occupying technical and leadership positions in engineering industries that have traditionally remained male-dominated. Tracking data such as the percentage increase of women in these sectors, combined with qualitative indicators such as leadership confidence and professional visibility, will help us assess progress.
Q. With 55% of your workforce comprising women, what internal learnings or workplace practices have informed the design of this external scholarship initiative?
A. Runaya’s own experience with an inclusive workforce has been an important guiding factor in shaping the scholarship initiative. With women comprising the majority of our workforce, we have observed that inclusive practices such as targeted mentorship, skill-building opportunities, and placing womenin core operations rather than limiting them to peripheral functions, lead to stronger organisational performance.
One of the key learnings is that representation matters. When women see others like them occupying leadership or frontline roles, it sends a powerful message about possibility and belonging. This internal learning has directly influenced our decision to incorporate mentorship into the scholarship so that students can interact with senior women professionals who have successfully navigated similar paths.
Additionally, our organizational practices have shown that creating equal opportunities in industries long underrepresented by women, such as mining solutions, aluminium recovery, and advanced manufacturing drives innovation and strengthens team performance. The scholarship is designed to replicate this environment by exposing scholars to real projects and creating a sense of ownership early in their careers.
Q. As Runaya continues its work across green innovation, are there plans to expand such academic collaborations to other institutes or regions in India?
A. The partnership with NIT Raipur is an important first step in creating a structured platform for women in STEM. However, the vision for the Runaya Reach Scholarship has always been national in scale. India has several engineering institutes producing bright young talent, but many women students face barriers that limit their entry into core industry roles. By extending this initiative beyond Raipur, Runaya aims to create a wider pool of opportunities across geographies. We are actively evaluating partnerships with other institutions that share our commitment to industry readiness and inclusion. The expansion could include collaborations with leading engineering colleges and institutes located in industrial belts where women’s participation remains disproportionately low.
The intent is not just to multiply the number of scholarships but to open the path for more women engineers who are equipped with leadership skills and sustainability-focused training. Over time, Runaya envisions creating a national network of scholarship recipients, alumni, and mentors, thereby shaping an ecosystem where collaboration, innovation, and inclusion feed into each other. This approach reflects Runaya’s larger mission of building a sustainable and inclusive sector.
Q. In what ways will the internships at Runaya’s facilities expose students to emerging technologies and innovations that are shaping the future of the manufacturing sector?
A. Internships at Runaya’s facilities are a cornerstone of the scholarship programme, designed to give students a first-hand look at the advanced technologies driving change in the manufacturing sector. Runaya’s portfolio spans minor metal recovery, aluminium recycling, gas-atomised metallurgical powders, and fibre-reinforced rods for telecom industries. Exposure to these technologies will allow scholars to see how innovation is redefining processes that were once considered traditional or resource intensive. Students will not only observe but also actively participate in ongoing projects, guided by professionals who are shaping new standards in sustainable manufacturing. For instance, at the Telecom grade FRP & ARP business, they will get a first-hand experience of the strong R&D-led approach that constantly fuels development of a diverse range of rods, to meet the evolving needs of global telecom partners through an ESG-led model. This exposure will give scholars the skills and insights to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies in manufacturing.
In addition to technical training, internships will expose scholars to cross-functional aspects of the business, such as R&D, quality assurance, and operational efficiency. This holistic exposure will help them understand how innovation is implemented across the entire value chain.
Q. How do you envision the role of Runaya Reach in shaping public perception about women’s capabilities in traditionally male-dominated engineering domains?
A. Runaya Reach goes beyond creating a visible narrative that challenges stereotypes but it beyond. It’s about redefining what progress looks like, across education, environment and empowerment. By supporting women in these spaces, we aim to demonstrate that capability, innovation, and leadership are gender-neutral qualities.
Each scholar who completes the programme and steps into an industry role becomes a role model for others, proving that women can thrive in demanding environments and lead complex technical projects. Over time, the cumulative impact of these success stories will help shift societal perceptions of women in the field of engineering. Moreover, through Runaya’s strong media and community engagement, we intend to highlight the journeys of our scholars and create awareness about the importance of gender equity in STEM. The broader objective is to normalise women’s presence in engineering roles and leadership positions, ultimately creating a cultural shift where their participation is no longer seen as the exception but the norm.
Q. Are there opportunities within Runaya for scholarship recipients to transition into full-time roles after their graduation, thereby creating a seamless bridge between academia and industry?
A. Yes, creating a bridge between academia and industry is one of the most important objectives of the scholarship. Financial support and internships provide a foundation, but the true measure of success lies in enabling scholars to secure meaningful careers after graduation. At Runaya, we are committed to offering outstanding scholarship recipients opportunities to transition into full-time roles within the company.
Students who complete their internships successfully will be evaluated for potential pre-placement offers or direct recruitment into relevant functions such as R&D, operations, sustainability, or engineering solutions. By doing so, we ensure continuity for students, who move seamlessly from academic training to professional application.
This pathway also benefits Runaya by strengthening our talent pipeline with engineers who are not only academically strong but also aligned with our culture of sustainability and innovation. Over time, we expect to see scholars rising within the organisation, contributing to leadership roles, and shaping the company’s long-term growth strategy. In this way, the scholarship serves as both a social initiative and a strategic investment in the future of Runaya’s workforce.
