THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, MARCH 7, 2026

In industries like steel, once considered the domain of men, women today are taking centre stage and redefining roles with confidence and competence. Across the vast expanse of Rourkela Steel Plant, women are not just participating; they are leading, shaping and steering outcomes. Nearly 650 women are contributing in diverse roles, from operations and engineering to administration and support functions.

One remarkable example is the Planning and Production Control Department, where a dedicated team of women is playing a crucial role in the management’s decision-making process. Working at the core of Statistics and Planning, this team ensures that every plan is precise and every figure tells the right story. From annual business plans to long-term strategies, from production forecasts to MIS inputs for the Corporate Office dashboard, their work forms the backbone of informed decision-making.

Leading from the front is a woman, Sunita Singh, Chief General Manager (PPC), whose vision and guidance inspire the team to excel. Under her dynamic leadership, a close-knit team works seamlessly. The core group comprising Namita Senapati, AGM, Mitrabinda Prusty, Senior Manager, and Jemamani Toppo, Assistant Manager, handles planning, analysis and oversight. They are supported by a larger team of Kanchan Prabha Rout, Archana Sethy, Sachin Sarita Ekka, Meenakshi Sekhar Deo, Kavita Nayak, and Lakshmi Badaik, who ensure meticulous data management and vital ground-level inputs. Together, they form a well-structured chain of responsibility where experience, guidance and dedicated support converge to deliver accurate insights and dependable results for the organization.

The team’s responsibilities span across critical zones of the plant. Archana focuses on the Iron and Steel Zone, including the Raw Material Handling Plant, Blast Furnaces, Sinter Plant and Steel Melting Shop. She maintains detailed statistical records and production accounting daily, monthly, annually, and even since the inception of the plant, ensuring continuity, accuracy and reliability of data. Speaking quite confidently, Archana says, “I joined the PPC Department in 2021 and since then my role has been to keep the data of Blast Furnace and Sinter Plant. I feel proud to be part of a team that contributes to decision-making in such a vital area of the plant.” Balancing work with her personal life, Archana is also a mother to a seven-month-old baby and cares for her in-laws — managing both home and workplace with remarkable dedication.

Kanchan has the responsibility of maintaining statistical records of the Mills Zone, covering Hot Strip Mill, Plate Mill, New Plate Mill, Pipe Plants and other rolling units. For the Mills Zone, the work goes beyond systems and screens. It includes physical verification of closing stock, checking dispatch status through site visits, and converting ground realities into verified reports.

The team also monitors key techno-economic parameters, such as the coal-to-hot-metal ratio, helping the plant track efficiency and operational performance. This specific task is carried out by Lakshmi.

Several members of the team like Sarita, Meenakshi, and Kavita began their journey without formal technical training. Coming from non-technical backgrounds, they acquired computer skills through the Learning and Development initiatives of Rourkela Steel Plant, and today they actively support the team through accurate data entry and system-based work.

Meenakshi, who joined the department in 2012 straight after graduation, recalled how unfamiliar everything seemed at the beginning. Today, she confidently handles the statistical records of SMS-I and SMS-II. Speaking enthusiastically, she shared that the journey has been one of constant learning. “I had no idea about this work when I joined, but I learned step by step,” she said.

Together, their efforts support production trend analysis, annual business planning, bonus and reward calculations, financial assessments and techno-economic performance. Quietly, consistently and confidently, these women ensure that every number is correct — because when the data is right, the direction is right.