IndianOil employees show off the ‘power of women’
Mumbai   19-Mar-2012

India’s largest company by sales with a turnover of Rs3,28,744 crore and profit of Rs7,445crore (2010-11), IndianOil is the highest ranked Indian company in the Fortune 500 listings, ranked at the 98th position. But on March 11, the company’s management wanted its women employees to feel power of a different kind.

Forty-five women from the western region office of IndianOil participated in the Stayfree DNA I Can Women’s Half Marathon. SS Bapat, ED, regional services — western region, said, “We wanted them to experience the power of women.”

With a huge workforce of 34,000 spread all over the country, this public sector company has just 166 women posted at the 20+ offices in Mumbai. And nearly 25% of them showed up at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) ground on March 11 under the banner of Women in Public Sector (WIPS) supporting the women’s marathon.

With the energy and enthusiasm of little girls, the women in the 25-35 age group ran in all three categories supporting the three causes — girl education, cervical cancer and safety of women at the workplace. Their banner aptly stated: “Running for the cause with one spirit.”

Saraswati Joshi, 30, assistant manager in the company’s finance department (western region) finished 21km in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Three other IOCians — Thresa Almeida, Renuka Nair and Merrin James completed the 10km Spirit Run. Others like Preeti Dhurnadhar finished the 5km Fun-Run.

A regular walker, Joshi had participated in this year’s Mumbai Marathon as well.