Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has launched ‘Pride in Manufacturing’, a first-of-its-kind toolkit aimed at promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion in India’s manufacturing sector, where conversations around workplace diversity have traditionally remained limited.
The toolkit was unveiled simultaneously at GCPL’s headquarters in Mumbai and at its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu by the company’s senior leadership. Developed in partnership with Transformis, an Inclusion and Diversity consulting firm, and Ashoka University student Antara Roy Chowdhury, the toolkit seeks to help organizations create safer, more equitable and inclusive workplaces for LGBTQIA+ employees.
According to GCPL, an estimated 45.4 million people in India identify as LGBTQIA+, yet workplace inclusion remains a challenge, with 34 per cent citing personal safety concerns as a barrier to openly expressing their identity at work. The toolkit combines legal guidance, industry insights, workplace practices and real-life scenarios to support leaders, managers and employees in fostering cultures of dignity, respect and belonging.
Speaking at the launch, Sudhir Sitapati, MD and CEO of GCPL, said inclusion is not merely a programme but a belief system rooted in dignity, respect and equal rights. Vaibhav Ram, Global Head-HR at GCPL, said the company’s Chengalpattu plant currently has 3 per cent LGBTQIA+ representation and continues to strengthen its inclusion efforts.
In Guwahati, the initiative reflects a growing focus among Indian companies on workplace diversity beyond metropolitan corporate offices. With manufacturing and industrial activities expanding across the Northeast, experts believe inclusive workforce policies could help companies attract a wider talent pool, improve employee retention and align with evolving social and corporate governance standards. The toolkit may also encourage manufacturers in the region to adopt more structured diversity and inclusion practices.
The launch forms part of GCPL’s broader Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy aimed at building workplace cultures where every individual can participate, contribute and thrive.
Godrej launches toolkit to promote LGBTQIA+ inclusion in manufacturing workplaces
