SCCL Opens Heavy Dumper Operations to Women for First Time

Hyderabad: Breaking new ground in the mining sector, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has started recruiting women heavy dumper operators for the first time, responding to a push from the Telangana government to widen employment avenues for women in mining.

The initiative came after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka directed SCCL to create pathways for women to enter heavy dumper operations at open-cast mines.

The dumper vehicles used in SCCL operations have capacities between 60 and 100 tonnes and are deployed to haul coal and overburden from mining pits to the surface. For nearly half a century, this role remained exclusively male-staffed, as the position demanded robust physical capability, advanced driving proficiency, and resilience to challenging weather and continuous shift patterns.

SCCL's decision reflects a changing workforce composition. With growing numbers of women joining the company in recent years, the management recognised potential to open traditionally male-only positions. The company issued a call for applications from female staff members keen to pursue dumper operation roles in open-cast mining.

Training Programme Yields Results

The recruitment drive saw approximately 35 women workers express interest. Since the position required Heavy Motor Vehicle licences, SCCL partnered with the Telangana Institute of Driving Education and Skills (TIDES) in Sircilla to deliver specialist training at no cost to the participants.

Thirteen women successfully completed the intensive driving programme and indicated their preparedness to assume dumper operator duties. These women will be considered in the forthcoming recruitment cycle for dumper operators.

SCCL characterised the development as a significant milestone for advancing women's participation in mining. The company also announced the establishment of a women's rescue team—another first for the organisation—signalling broader efforts to integrate women across operational functions.

Management officials anticipate that additional female employees will soon operate heavy dumpers across SCCL's mining operations.

Several of the trained operators shared that they harboured initial doubts about managing such demanding responsibilities. Through hands-on experience with the machines during training, however, they developed confidence in their capabilities. The women noted that females are now performing at elite levels across diverse sectors, including space exploration, and expressed gratitude to both the state government and SCCL leadership for facilitating this opportunity.