Scripted with Diligence, Sealed with Face
February 17, 2024
Head HRM, Hisar
When this mechanical engineering graduate hailing from the Yamunanagar district of Haryana was in 10th standard, he had a date with destiny. Meet the Head HRM of our Hisar unit, Mr Rachin Verma, whose journey began to unfold when he was awarded a merit certificate by our dearest Bauji, Shri O P Jindal. Little did he know at that moment, that fate was subtly guiding him towards a remarkable professional path. From holding a stellar academic record and being a cricket enthusiast and a die-hard fan of Sachin Tendulkar to becoming an expert in working with cross-functional teams, Mr Verma is an all-rounder. In this edition of Stainless Spirit, Niharika Parashar from the Abhivyakti team brings you Mr Verma’s inspirational story.
Q. Tell us about your life before Jindal Stainless.
A. Yamunanagar is my hometown, but I have done my schooling in different cities of Haryana and Punjab, as my father was an employee with the State Bank of India and his job was transferable. My mom is a homemaker, and my brother works in the power sector as a DGM in GE Power. I got married in 2006; my wife is a homemaker and I am blessed with two children, a son and a daughter. I was always a bright student during my school and college years. Apart from academics, one thing I was passionate about was cricket. I was the vice-captain of my college cricket team, and our team also brought laurels in cricket championships. Before becoming a part of the Stainless family, I worked for Mahan Foods, a dairy products manufacturer located in Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, for about six months.
Q. How has the journey with Jindal Stainless been for you?
A. I joined Jindal Stainless in 2002 as a Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET). The fact that I joined as a GET in the HRM (Hot Rolling Mill) operations and, today, I am leading that very department underscores my notable stint here. This 21-year journey is testimony to the organisation’s commitment towards enabling and empowering its employees along the lines of unity, togetherness, and collaboration to build a Stainless future. I have been fortunate to receive numerous valuable opportunities to work in different domains of operations such as hydraulics and maintenance, plate annealing and pickling, projects, as well as mechanical maintenance in HRM and SMS. Along with this, I also got the opportunity and exposure to work in long products such as wire rods and rebars. All of this has helped me understand the nuances of stainless steel manufacturing. However, more importantly, it has led to the development of critical leadership traits, which are pivotal to the growth of individuals, colleagues, teams, organisations, and the industry at large. My experience till now has been a unique one, especially since I have largely worked in cross-functional teams. This has guided my working style, which is built on the foundation of strengthening my teams and empowering them so that the goals are achieved both at the individual and team levels. I also feel lucky to have worked with the current senior leadership, which allowed me to learn critical skills – patience and stewardship from Mr Vijay Kumar Bindlish (Unit Head, Hisar); quick decision-making from Mr Rajinder Raina (Head Operations, Hisar); team empowerment from Mr Neelesh Jain (Head Projects); and technical competencies from Mr Rajesh Arora (AVP, SMS Projects).
Q. Tell us about your most memorable moment here.
A. There are numerous memorable moments I have experienced here. However, one special moment was when I received a certificate of appreciation from Mr S Bhattarcharya, former Director of Operations. Another memorable moment was the time I led the brownfield project of installing an induction furnace at SMS 2, which is also India’s largest in terms of capacity in the stainless steel industry. This was accompanied by working on coating electrodes used in melting to reduce electrode consumption, thus improving cost efficiency. The most challenging part of this project was that the execution had to be done in an already functional plant. But the best part was that we achieved success in tapping the first heat from the induction furnace on July 1, 2019, without any failure and with 100% safety compliance in the minimum time period. This project has instilled numerous learnings in me, with the process of effective stainless steel manufacturing being the most important one.
Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
A. Working on self-growth through yoga and physical exercise is the best part of my day. Another activity that I enjoy and relish the most is spending time with my seven-year-old daughter. I truly feel that she has brightened up the colours of my life. Apart from this, I also enjoy reading non-fiction books. My latest read has been Diamond in the Dust by Salil Desai, Rakshit Ranjan, and Saurabh Mukherjea.
Q. What is your message to the Jindal Stainless Family?
A. The organisation offers you multiple opportunities for growth at every level of your career. It is upon the individual to make the best out of the available moments. The coming decade holds a promising future for our country. As we stand on the brink of a shining decade, Jindal Stainless will emerge as a pivotal force in shaping our nation’s future. Let’s unite and come together to embark on a journey towards new milestones and triumphs in the coming era of boundless possibilities.
