- The three-day hybrid event celebrated GE’s commitment to promoting inclusivity, the spirit of allyship, and innovative initiatives to build D&I
- More than 2000 GE employees in Bangalore learned to order ice cream using sign language
Bengaluru, October 21, 2022: GE’s South Asia Inclusion and Diversity Council celebrated the spirit of inclusion, diversity and equity at the annual conclave, BELONG. On 19th October 2022, John F Welch Technology Centre employees and LM Factory in Dabaspet participated in multiple events including sign language training sessions arranged at the respective locations.
An American sign language training workshop for employees was organised at JFWTC and LM Factory Dabaspet by GiftAbled – an organisation that empowers People with Disabilities across several aspects of their life and support them in living with dignity. Post the training sessions, employees purchased ice-creams from the ice cream trucks parked on campus using the sign language they learned. More than 2000 GE employees in Bangalore learned to order ice cream using sign language
Sukla Chandra, Inclusion and Diversity Council leader, GE South Asia, said: “BELONG 2022 underlines the spirit of inclusivity that thrives across our organization. The initiatives at our Bengaluru campuses and the employee turnout are strong examples of the culture we foster at GE; The sign language training arranged for GE employees at our centres in Bangalore, will enable them to be more aware of the challenges faced by PwD employees and address subconscious bias. We only wish to further our commitments and inspire and touch the lives of everyone who are a part of the GE family.”
The BELONG conclave, held virtually, featured more than 20 different sessions and activities that underlined the focus of the organization to build an inclusive world. The Regional I&D Council Playbook was launched virtually at the BELONG conclave by Mahesh Palashikar, President, GE South Asia; Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director, Wipro GE Healthcare; Amol Nagar, Managing Director & Head of Operations, GE Aviation (MMF Pune); and Deepesh Nanda, CEO, GE Gas Power, South Asia.
A cross-business, cross-function group, the GE South Asia Diversity Council is led by a group of mid and senior-level GE executives in the region. It drives cross-business initiatives to promote a culture of inclusion through analysis and insights, compliances, awareness programs, ally recruitment and managing the employee resource groups. Over the ySears, the Council has achieved exceptional results in driving leadership commitment to improving diversity. In key initiatives, the Council started the Pride Alliance and Disability Advocacy Network (DAN) at a South Asia region level.
120 years of GE in South Asia
GE has been operating in South Asia since 1902. Today, its 19,000 employees based here work in research, development, product design, manufacturing, project execution and services. GE has 14 factories and five technology centres in India. Over the decades GE has built deep partnerships with local joint venture partners, customers, and suppliers. GE’s partners and customers in India include Government enterprises, large Indian conglomerates as well small and medium sized companies in Aviation, Healthcare, and Energy sectors.
