Page 22 - ITLN May-June 2025

Special Report
Women
in logistics

A common myth
I’ve worked to dispel
is that women don’t fit
well in the supply chain
industry because of its
demanding nature.
Mahima Agarwal
CJ Darcl

and FY 2023–24. Only 22% of companies The Department for Promotion of India, where diversity is embedded into
offer daycare benefits, a support Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the core of its business strategy and
mechanism known to significantly in collaboration with GIZ under the workplace culture.
improve women’s return-to-work rates. Indo-German Green Freight Project, “At DHL, I am valued for the unique
But what makes the case for has released a study titled "Enabling perspectives I bring—whether it is
women’s inclusion stronger is the Women’s Participation in India’s empathy, creativity, or people-centric
economic argument. Companies that Logistics Sector." The study sheds light leadership,” says Sarbani Sengupta,
increased female representation in their on the current barriers to women’s Vice President – Customer Service. “I
warehouse workforce saw measurable inclusion, including challenges in have seen firsthand how an inclusive
benefits. Female employees contributed education, skills training, workplace work culture drives progress, and
to cost savings of up to 12%, owing culture, and infrastructure. therefore, I have actively worked
to higher attendance and quality of Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, towards ensuring that our teams across
output. Delhivery, for example, reported DPIIT, emphasised the importance of DHL Express champion diversity in
that women had a 6% lower attrition this study, underscoring that women- every way possible. Within the customer
rate than men and 8% higher 100% led development will be critical for service team itself, we have been able to
attendance rates. India’s growth. "Ensuring women’s increase women's representation from
participation in high-growth sectors 20% to 45%, advocating for policies that
Inside the numbers: like logistics is not only a matter of support women.”
A sector-wide snapshot equity but also an economic necessity," But this inclusive culture has been
Top performers in gender diversity Bhatia stated. The study advocates a gradual evolution. “When I joined the
among NSE-listed logistics firms for a three-tiered approach involving logistics industry two decades ago,
include AllCargo Logistics (19%), TCI ecosystem-level, industry-level, female leaders were rare, and the
Express (13%), AllCargo Gati (13%), and firm-level interventions to drive sector was not viewed as aspirational
Container Corporation (12%), and meaningful change and enhance for women,” says Sengupta.
Mahindra Logistics (11%). However, gender diversity in the logistics sector. The numbers reflect this shift.
these companies remain outliers, Globally, women made up just 8% of
with most firms still exhibiting single- Building inclusion with intention the logistics workforce in 2010; by 2018,
digit female representation in both Among the companies leading the way that number grew to 20%. In India,
operational and leadership roles. in gender inclusion is DHL Express women comprise around 15% of the
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