Godrej Consumer Products Unveils ‘Pride in Manufacturing’ Toolkit to Drive LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Manufacturing Sector

Hyderabad: Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has officially launched ‘Pride in Manufacturing’, a unique and practical toolkit designed to assist organizations in building safer, more equitable, and inclusive manufacturing workplaces for LGBTQIA+ talent. While conversations surrounding LGBTQIA+ inclusion have gained considerable momentum across corporate India, manufacturing facilities—which represent one of the country’s largest sources of employment—have largely remained absent from these critical discussions. This newly introduced toolkit aims to bridge that exact gap.

The comprehensive toolkit was launched simultaneously across two primary locations on June 11, 2026. Sudhir Sitapati, Managing Director and CEO of Godrej Consumer Products, led the unveiling at the company’s corporate headquarters, Godrej One, in Mumbai. Concurrently, Vaibhav Ram, Global Head of Human Resources at GCPL, presented the toolkit at the company’s manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. The initiative reflects GCPL’s core commitment to fostering deeply inclusive work environments and strengthening India’s manufacturing workforce by ensuring every individual possesses the opportunity to participate, contribute, and thrive.

Developed in strategic partnership with Transformis, a leading Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) consulting firm, alongside Antara Roy Chowdhury, a student from Ashoka University in Sonipat, the toolkit addresses a stark and critical gap in workplace inclusion. In India, an estimated 45.4 million people identify as LGBTQIA+, yet workplace inclusion remains a significant hurdle; notably, 34 percent of individuals cite personal safety concerns as a major barrier to being open about their identity at work. By combining essential legal context, distinct industry insights, inclusive workplace practices, and real-world scenarios, the toolkit equips corporate leaders, factory managers, and teams with actionable guidance to foster organizational cultures rooted in dignity, respect, and belonging.

Because manufacturing possesses unique operational, logistical, and cultural realities that differ from traditional corporate offices, the toolkit provides specific, actionable recommendations. These focus heavily on inclusive hiring processes, workplace infrastructure modifications, employee sensitization programs, leadership accountability metrics, and the creation of sustainable environments where diverse talent can succeed and grow professionally.

Reflecting on the unveiling of the toolkit, Sudhir Sitapati emphasized that inclusion at GCPL is a fundamental belief system rather than a temporary program or milestone. He noted that every individual inherently deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to exercise their fundamental rights. Sitapati stated that the toolkit serves as a practical step forward, bringing together real-world workplace scenarios, legal frameworks, and everyday actions to help teams build safer manufacturing environments. He reinforced that true inclusion is ultimately shaped by small, consistent choices in how organizations design workplaces, make decisions, and treat one another.

Vaibhav Ram highlighted the strategic importance of the sector, noting that manufacturing is one of India’s key economic growth engines. He shared that GCPL has been on a deliberate journey to make its own manufacturing operations highly inclusive, pointing out that LGBTQIA+ representation currently stands at 3 percent at their Chengalpattu plant in Tamil Nadu. Ram stated that this progress demonstrates what is possible when inclusion is backed by genuine intent and structured action. He expressed hope that sharing the culmination of GCPL’s learnings and experiences through this toolkit will enable and smoothen the inclusion journeys of other manufacturing organizations across the country. The launch forms a core part of GCPL’s ongoing commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across its global operations.