State Bank of India (SBI), is ramping up efforts to enhance gender diversity, targeting 30% women representation across its workforce within the next five years.“If we talk about frontline staff, women are almost 33%, but as a total if you see, they account for 27% of the total workforce. So, we will be working towards improving this percentage so that the diversity gets further improved,” SBI deputy managing director (HR) & chief development officer (CDO) Kishore Kumar Poludasu told PTI.The bank is working to reach its medium-term goal of having 30% women in its workforce, he added.With over 2.4 lakh employees, SBI has one of the largest staff bases in India’s banking sector. The bank is implementing focused measures to bridge the gender gap and create a workplace where women can thrive at all levels.Key initiatives include a creche allowance for working mothers, family connect programmes, and training for women returning from maternity leave, sabbaticals, or extended sick leave. The country’s largest lender’s programmes aim to identify, mentor, and train women for leadership roles through structured labs and coaching, preparing them to become future top executives.Recognising women’s unique health needs, SBI has introduced targeted programmes such as breast and cervical cancer screenings, nutrition allowances for pregnant staff, and a cervical cancer vaccination drive.SBI has also expanded its all-women branches, with over 340 branches currently run exclusively by female staff, a number set to grow in the coming years.
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