India’s women in science and their struggle

  • May 20, 2023
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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India’s women in science and their struggle

Subject :International relations

Section: Neighbouring countries

Context: Recent data from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) showed women made up 28% of participants in 2018-19 in extramural Research and Development (R&D) projects, up from 13% in 2000-01

Status on Women scientist

  • Percentage of women in R&D is 16.6% among total number of scientists working in S&T organizations.
  • There are 56,747 women scientists directly engaged in R&D activities out of total 3.42 lakh R&D personnel at various Research & Development (R&D) establishments.
  • The proportion of women in the scientific workforce is lower in India than in advanced countries
  • Many women are unable to make it because of a lack of funds and opportunities
  • the lack of security and safety of the cities and towns limits the options and opportunities for girls to a large extent
  • Families, especially those from lower income backgrounds, don’t send their daughters for tuitions or coaching to faraway places at odd hours
  • women scientists find it difficult to achieve work-life balance, especially in the child-bearing and rearing years

Government Initiatives to promote women in S&T:

I-STEM (Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map): Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST)

  • It was launched on 5thSeptember 2022 by Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA)
  • This programme will cater to women with a STEM background and empower them to contribute to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
  • I-STEM is a national web portal for sharing research equipment/facilities and is the umbrella under which many programmes for promoting collaborations in R&D and technological innovation among and between academia and industry
  • Provide a separate platform to scientifically inclined women researchers, scientists, and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of science and engineering.

Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)

  • Under this, women scientists are being encouraged to pursue research in frontier areas of science and engineering, on problems of societal relevance and to take up S&T-based internship followed by self-employment.
  • It primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in their career but desired to return to mainstream.
  • It was implemented by Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Consolidation of University Research through Innovation and Excellence (CURIE) Programme:

  • It provides support for development of research infrastructure and creation of state-of-the-art research laboratories
  • To enhance women’s participation in S&T domain.
  • It was implemented by Department of Science & Technology (DST)

Vigyan Jyoti

  • the “Vigyan Jyoti” has been introduced in the year 2019-20 at the school level wherein meritorious girl students of Class 9-12 are being encouraged to pursue higher education and career in STEM field.
  • Envisaged hand-holding and interventions right from the school level i.e., Class IX and which will continue till the PhD level to encourage girls to pursue a career in underrepresented areas of STEM.
  • Various activities such as science camps, special lectures/ classes, counselling of students and parents, interaction with role models, tinkering activities, visit to Knowledge Partners/ Research Labs/ Industries/ NGOs are being conducted in the programme in order to motivate girls.
  • It was implemented by Department of Science & Technology (DST)

SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)

  • It is a scheme of Science and Engineering Research Board of DST
  • It aims to address lower participation of women scientists in research activities and to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering.

Other Initiatives:

In addition to this, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is also implementing ‘Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (BioCARe)’ to enhance the participation of Women Scientists in Biotechnology research

Government instituted Janaki Ammal National Women Bioscientist Awards to recognize the contributions of senior and young women scientists in the country who are working in the areas of Biology and Biotechnology.

Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated a special award called “National Award for Woman Scientist” since 2018 which is being conferred to one-woman scientist each year

India’s women in science and their struggle International Relations