“Inclusion, for us, has never been a program or a moment in time – it is a belief system. A belief rooted in a simple, unwavering idea: that every individual deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to exercise their fundamental rights. This toolkit is a step in that direction. It brings together practical guidance, workplace scenarios, legal context, and everyday actions to help leaders, managers, and teams build safer and more inclusive manufacturing environments for LGBTQIA+ talent. Inclusion is ultimately shaped in small, consistent choices – in how we design our workplaces, how we make decisions, and how we treat one another.” Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL)
“Manufacturing is one of India’s key growth engines, and at GCPL, we have been on a deliberate journey to make our manufacturing operations more inclusive. Currently, our LGBTIQA+ representation stands at 3% in the Chengalpattu plant with ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusion, demonstrating what is possible when inclusion is backed by intent and action. The Pride in Manufacturing toolkit is a culmination of the learnings and experiences we have gathered along this journey, which we hope will enable other organizations implement or smoothen their inclusion journey in manufacturing.” Vaibhav Ram, Global Head – Human Resources, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL)
While conversations around LGBTQIA+ inclusion have gained momentum in corporate India, manufacturing workplaces, one of the country’s largest sources of employment—have largely remained absent from the discussion. To bridge this gap, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) unveiled the Pride in Manufacturing, a unique practical toolkit designed to help organizations build safer, more equitable and inclusive manufacturing workplaces for LGBTQIA+ talent.
The toolkit was launched simultaneously at Godrej One, the company’s headquarters in Mumbai, by Sudhir Sitapati, CEO & MD, Godrej Consumer Products, and at the company’s manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu by Vaibhav Ram, Global Head – HR, Godrej Consumer Products. The toolkit reflects GCPL’s commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces and strengthening India’s manufacturing workforce by enabling every individual to participate, contribute and thrive.
Developed in partnership with Transformis, a leading Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) consulting firm, and Antara Roy Chowdhury, a student at Ashoka University, Sonipat; ‘Pride in Manufacturing’ toolkit addresses a critical gap in workplace inclusion. While an estimated 45.4 million people in India identify as LGBTQIA+, workplace inclusion remains a challenge, with 34% citing personal safety concerns as a barrier to being open about their identity at work. Combining legal context, industry insights, inclusive workplace practices and real-world scenarios, the toolkit equips leaders, managers and teams with actionable guidance to foster cultures of dignity, respect and belonging while enabling more inclusive and future-ready manufacturing workplaces.
Manufacturing remains one of India’s largest employment sectors, yet conversations around LGBTQIA+ inclusion have often been concentrated in corporate environments. Recognizing the unique operational and cultural realities of manufacturing workplaces, the toolkit offers actionable recommendations on inclusive hiring, workplace infrastructure, employee sensitization, leadership accountability and creating environments where diverse talent can succeed and grow.
Speaking on the unveiling of the toolkit, Sudhir Sitapati, MD & CEO, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), said, “Inclusion, for us, has never been a program or a moment in time – it is a belief system. A belief rooted in a simple, unwavering idea: that every individual deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to exercise their fundamental rights. This toolkit is a step in that direction. It brings together practical guidance, workplace scenarios, legal context, and everyday actions to help leaders, managers, and teams build safer and more inclusive manufacturing environments for LGBTQIA+ talent. Inclusion is ultimately shaped in small, consistent choices – in how we design our workplaces, how we make decisions, and how we treat one another.”
Vaibhav Ram, Global Head – Human Resources, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), said, “Manufacturing is one of India’s key growth engines, and at GCPL, we have been on a deliberate journey to make our manufacturing operations more inclusive. Currently, our LGBTIQA+ representation stands at 3% in the Chengalpattu plant with ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusion, demonstrating what is possible when inclusion is backed by intent and action. The Pride in Manufacturing toolkit is a culmination of the learnings and experiences we have gathered along this journey, which we hope will enable other organizations implement or smoothen their inclusion journey in manufacturing.”
The launch is part of GCPL’s ongoing commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion across its operations and strengthening workplace cultures where every individual can thrive.
Link to ‘Pride in Manufacturing’ Toolkit: https://www.godrejdeilab.com/storage/pdfs/dei-directory/01KST04HB6FSQW8CX5H2SPVNC9.pdf
