The factory floor at the Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL) plant in Malanpur, Madhya Pradesh, usually hums to the steady music of its machinery, which processes materials and products familiar to most Indians: No. 1 Soap and Expert Rich Creme Hair Dye, among others. Since the plant began in 1991, most of this machinery was operated by male workers. Over the last few years, though, the plant's management has made a concerted push not to restrict women to enabling functions and introduce them to the shop floor. In recent months, the strength of women employees at the plant in Malanpur has gone from five - all in desk roles - to 75. The orchestra has a new sound.

On March 8th, 2024, the plant invited all its women and their families for "Godrej ki Shakti" - a unique celebration of women in manufacturing, which emphasised the role of families in encouraging and supporting the women to work.

Smriti Shakya's parents, from a farming family in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, joined her in the celebration. Smriti, who is a machine operator in the No. 1 soap factory, radiated determination as she talked about her journey through school and college - often cycling long hours back and forth to save money - and her determination to break out of traditional socio-economic role.

"Everyone at home backed me up and stood up for me against neighbours and other people who asked why a woman has to travel away from home and work a job that has night shifts," she remembered. "But the person who supported me the most was my nana" - her grandfather. Government education and scholarships helped her complete her schooling; encouragement from her loved ones, especially elders who chose not to be restricted by traditional compulsions, gave her the strength to forge a new path.

Family allyship is central to the lives and ambitions of almost every woman at the plant, including the senior supervisor with the longest career at Malanpur, Amrit Verma. One of the first five women to be recruited to the plant when it opened in 1991, Amrit still flourishes there, and supports her newer colleagues through their unique, and sometimes challenging journeys. She remembers her own mother being the person to cycle to the gates of the plant to submit her job application all those years ago. "Now, my daughter plays the biggest role in encouraging me,"

In a highlight of the day, Nisaba Godrej, executive chairperson, GCPL, addressed the gathered crowd. Her message was clear: family support is the fuel that propels women to thrive at work. The ceremony was one of recognition. Each woman, a silent warrior on the factory floor, had their story acknowledged.

Nisa was in conversation with Isha Goyal, CHRO, GCPL India], ahead of a larger panel discussion, hosted by Sandhya Ramesh, DEI Lead, GCPL. The panel featured Smriti and Amrit with Kalpana Deshmukh, mother of a young woman employee at the plant; and Ankit Gupta, a former Godrej employee, who is married to Rina, who currently works in the factory as Officer 1.

The celebration of Godrej ki Shakti intended to resonate beyond the factory walls, to spark conversations in homes across Malanpur and beyond; to support and celebrate the daughters who dreamt of a future filled with possibilities; mothers to find their own confidence bolstered, and fathers to re-evaluate their roles in supporting their families.

The fight for gender equality in manufacturing is far from over, but a seed of change has been sown in the heart of the Malanpur factory. It is a seed nurtured by the collective spirit of women, the unwavering support of their families, and the commitment of a company to create a more inclusive future. One empowered woman at a time, they rewrite the history of manufacturing in India, proving that the factory floor can be a place where women not only belong, but thrive.

Text and image by Rolie Breja.