Women of Cement

International Women’s Day is celebrated by CMA each year bringing to the fore the various roles being played by women in the Cement Industry in India, in keeping with this intent, CMA launched its initiative Women of Cement in 2022. CMA applauds and would like to highlight the women in the Cement fraternity. Women of Cement celebrates the resilience, strength and commitment of women in the Cement Industry and we call them, the Women of Cement.

International Women’s Day 2024

Aligned with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day-Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, CMA and the Member Companies continue to work towards empowering its women. Here empowerment is not just a word but a guiding principle.

As rightly said by Mr Abdul Kalam Azad, Empowering Women is a prerequisite to creating a good Nation.

At CMA, we stand firm in our commitment to gender equality and inclusivity. We have been able to create a work environment where everyone, regardless of gender, background, or identity, can thrive, grow, and succeed.

Together, we are shaping a workplace culture where every individual can thrive and reach their full potential.

Meet the Women of Cement

Madhuri Mehta, Group HR Head at Dalmia Bharat Group, is also a founding member and concept creator of Blue Orb. Madhuri has spent over 20 years in Human Relations, working with companies across the telecom and manufacturing industries.

As part of Dalmia Bharat Group since 2006, she has worked across all HR functions. She has rich experience in Culture, Capability Building, Organization Design, Change Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development and Employer Branding. She has led teams (formal and informal) in the region and across geographies.

Madhuri has also won MD’s Distinguished Leader award and the Best People Manager award.

She is a Post Graduate in HR and a Bachelor in Sociology. Prior to joining Dalmia Bharat, she has worked with Bharti Airtel Limited for five years.

While giving support to diverse businesses like cement, sugar and refractories, she has developed HR strategies as per business requirements and ensured proper execution of Performance Management process, across verticals.

Madhuri has also led digitization of HR processes at Dalmia Bharat Group and ensured constant engagement with employees to build a culture of belongingness & winning. Under her guidance, Dalmia Bharat has conducted several assessment programs to identify individual competency levels and planned development programs to bridge the gap. In addition, identified key positions and groomed internal talents to take over internal roles through a well-defined development plan.

Through her strong positive attitude, she has built good relationship with Government bodies to ensure peaceful industrial relations across manufacturing locations and safeguarded smooth functioning of Unions, through locational HR teams with planned strategic engagement with Unions. Also, making sure safe working place in compliance to MHA guidelines, state government and Local authorities.

Madhuri’s rich experience in interacting with people offered her a unique insight on how people with a strong value base were the real winners in life. With her passion for delivering real value to society through innovative ways of incorporating values in our modern-day lives, Madhuri conceptualized ‘Blue Orb foundation’. With a focus on the holistic development of a child, Madhuri has designed a unique and proprietary WIN model – Work the Body, Inspire the Mind, Nourish the Soul – that aims to develop the physical, emotional, and spiritual quotient of children. These programs help in exploring and developing universal values and associated intrapersonal, social and emotional skills. The foundation currently works with many states across India and help them with develop and implement a value-based curriculum.

Ms Manisha Pattiwar, Vice President is working with UltraTech Cement since 1991. She completed her B.Tech from Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur in 1991. She started her career journey with Awarpur Cement Works as Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET). She has experience of Cement Plant operations, Project Engineering, Project Management, Project Cost estimate & Cost management and Procurement. Currently, she is heading planning & budgeting cell for UltraTech Cement. She is playing a key role as leader for entire manufacturing vertical of UltraTech Cement. Her dedication towards work and attitude of leading from front is inspirational to all young managers of the organization.

Mrs. Madhumita Basu heads Marketing and Strategy for Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary Nu Vista Limited. Mrs. Basu joined Nuvoco in 2010 as ExCo Member and Head of Marketing for its cement business; where she shared responsibility for driving key corporate goals in safety, growth, business performance, innovation and people development. Later, in October 2015; she was given the additional mandate of heading sales for the cement business; along with driving innovation processes, new products and services for the Residential Housing segment. Mrs. Basu has over three decades of experience in customer-centric processes and crossfunctional engagement within strategic planning, sales and marketing (domestic and international), business development and outsourcing; as well as quality management and IT. Prior to joining Nuvoco, she worked with Exide Industries and Eveready Industries India. Mrs. Basu has a Bachelor degree in Commerce and a Masters in Management Studies (Finance Major) from Mumbai University. She has been associated with various fora for Training and Development programmes. She is also a recipient of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Young Manager Award and a Past President of The Calcutta Management Association.

Mrs. Manisha Kelkar heads Human Resources and Industrial Relations for Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited and its whollyowned subsidiary Nu Vista Limited. Mrs. Kelkar joined Nuvoco in 2009 as Head of Management Development for its cement business and later took over responsibilities for heading Organisation Development, Diversity and Inclusion, Organisation Effectiveness and Talent Management for all its business verticals. Between 2014 and 2017, Mrs. Kelkar played a crucial role in steering the organisation through the process of divestment and brand transition, articulating the Employee Value Proposition for Nuvoco. In 2017, she took the responsibilities of Head – Corporate HR reinforcing people processes and outlining the HR agenda for creating a future-ready organisation. Mrs. Kelkar has over two decades of experience in Human Resources across the Manufacturing and Service Industry where she cultivated a performance driven culture through innovative HR and employee engagement processes using robust Talent Management and Leadership Development interventions for creating sustainable organisations. Prior to joining Nuvoco, she has worked with Crompton Greaves, RPG Enterprises, E-Funds International, Morgan Stanley and WNS Global Services. Mrs. Kelkar has a Bachelor degree in Commerce and a Masters in Management Studies (Specialisation in HR) from Mumbai University. She is a strong believer in the principle of unlimited potential and continuous learning. Ms. Kelkar is an ICF Certified Coach, trained in NLP, Process Oriented Psychology and is also a certified Organization Development Practitioner from ISABS India. She has been associated with various fora for Training and Education.

Dr VL Indira Dutt, is the Chairperson & Managing Director and CEO of The KCP Limited an 80 year old multi-product, multi-location conglomerate, with USD 3 Billion group turnover and business interests in diversified products like Cement, Heavy Engineering, Sugar, Power and Hospitality. Dr. Indira Dutt propelled the Company, in uncertain and volatile economic conditions, to sustained growth trajectory by building organizational resilience. While imbibing the fine qualities of business management from her husband Dr V Lakshman Dutt, a legendary personality among business entrepreneurs, Dr Indira Dutt observed the company from close quarters. From a position of Director in 1986 and as Joint Managing Director in 1999, she rose to become Chairperson & Managing Director, at a crucial juncture, when economy was ravaged by pandemic. She took active role as Chairperson of the Joint Venture Company, FCKCP Limited and the subsidiary, KCP Vietnam Industries. She ensured not only efficient operation of the Group but also their growth strategies, focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), targeting substantial reduction in carbon footprints. Realizing that sustainability of business operations lies in customer satisfaction through quality products and quick response to their requirements, Dr Indira Dutt ensured that the ISO compliant procedures are in place and continuously monitored and upgraded. With the philosophy of inclusive growth, Dr Indira Dutt is aggressive in Corporate Social Responsibility spends, irrespective of regulatory requirements. Dr Indira Dutt runs schools around the manufacturing units at Chennai, Macherla and Muktyala. In pandemic, she procured oxygen plants, to meet the need of the hour. Through vocational courses she is ensuring employment opportunities to the needy, living around the manufacturing units. Dr Indira Dutt, is also sparing considerable time for the betterment of business community. She is the President of Andhra Chamber of Commerce. She was Chairperson of SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneur Council (SCWEC) and the first Indian to hold the post. Earlier, she was also the President of FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO), the ladies’ wing of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) As the President of World Telugu Federation, Indira Dutt is deeply involved in promoting Telugu language, literature and culture Her magnum opus is the Telugu Heritage Museum built at Visakhapatnam Dr VL Indira Dutt is not only business entrepreneur, but also a writer. She penned the biography of her legendary husband Dr V Lakshman Dutt, which was ceremoniously released by the Hon’ble Vice President of India Dr. Indira Dutt is a sterling example of how women can make a big difference to the society given her holistic vision for the betterment of the world.

CA N.Sankari is a young Chartered Accountant and Post Graduate in Business Management. She has a vast experience of 15 years in the area of Finance and Accounts. She started her carrier as Trainee and promoted to Audit manager in an Audit firm. Subsequently, she joined as Senior Associate in Marne Dimension Logistics Ld. At present, She has been working as Deputy Manager Finance since Jan 2013 in Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Limited, a reputed Tamil Nadu State Public Sector Undertaking having an annual turnover of Rs.800 Crores mainly dealing with manufacturing of Cement to Government and private parties. She has been playing crucial role for preparing annual budget for the organization and heading the finance department besides took an active role in the project management in the recently installed one million tonnes per annum capacity of state of the art new modern cement plant at Ariyalur at a project cost of Rs.809 crore. She is a key member in various committees of the present organization which includes Tenders, Purchase, Price Fixation of Cement and Cost Control activities etc. Further, She has excellent experience in the field of Income tax, Accounting, Financial Management. She has been directly reporting to Chairman and Managing Director who will be normally in the cadre of IAS officer besides reporting to Board of TANCEM. Apart from the leading front at the workplace, Sankari also leads by example at Home. She was married to Mr.Vijayan who is a Chartered Accountant and Cost Accountant. She has two kids and she adjust her schedules and make compromises when the needs of children and other family members collide with work.