MAM
Cadbury Dairy Milk sets out initiative for MCA ground staff
Mumbai: As the country gears up for the much-awaited cricket season, chocolate brand Cadbury Dairy Milk has partnered with Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to celebrate and support the often-unnoticed heroes of the league, the ground staff.
This season, the brand has become the official sponsor for the ground staff, and as a part of this initiative, it introduced efforts focused on treating the ground staff at par with the cricketers. “This includes best-in-class travel, accommodation, taking care of their nutritional needs, and providing customised jerseys designed by renowned fashion designer Masaba Gupta, throughout the season,” according to the statement.
The brand has also extended its collaboration with Mumbai Indians as the official ‘goodness partner’ supporting the initiative.
Speaking about the initiative, Mondelez India VP of marketing Anil Viswanathan said they want to support and bring forth stories of these members who tirelessly work behind the scenes. “We hope our initiative acts as a springboard and spreads the message of acknowledging the unacknowledged,” he added.
“Building further on our generosity platform, this cricketing season we are proud to celebrate the team of ground staff. We are grateful to have them as our team,” stated Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak.
“The ground staff are the unsung heroes of cricket, so it was only fair that we now acknowledged the heroes behind this massive event,” commented Wavemaker India’s national director – sports and entertainment partnerships Jigar Rambhia. “The biggest challenge for us, however, was to ensure that they get their dues, while cricket & the players continue to be at the center of this event.”
“To do this we decided to acknowledge their efforts, where they sweat it out the most, their grounds. From recognising them off-screen to recognising them on screen, we aim to give the people of India a glimpse into the lives of the ground staff, so that when they watch cricket next, they celebrate, both: on-screen and off-screen heroes,’’ he added.
“Acknowledging the real heroes behind the scenes is a very generous gesture. Mumbai Cricket Association is delighted to be a part of this never done before heart-warming activity for the ground staff at Wankhede stadium,” the MCA spokesperson highlighted.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
