Lok Sabha Question No. 731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Research among Women Researchers
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: VIRENDER KASHYAP

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) 'Women  Scientist  Scheme'  of  the  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  provides  career opportunities which includes fellowship to unemployed women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in career, for pursuing research in frontier areas of Science and Engineering. There are three major components  of  Women  Scientist  Scheme  namely,  i)  Women  Scientists  Scheme-A  (WOS-A)  for  conducting research  in  Basic  &  Applied  Sciences,  ii)  Women  Scientists  Scheme-B  (WOS-B)  for  projects  in  research  that entail S&T interventions for Societal Benefit and iii) Women Scientists Scheme-C (WOS-C) that enables them to become Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) professional. The monthly fellowship amount for women having M.Sc, M.Phil/M.Tech  and  Ph.D  degrees  is  Rs.30,000/-,  Rs.40,000/-  and  Rs.55,000/-  respectively.  In  2017-18,  DST initiated  'Indo-US  Fellowship  for  Women  in  STEMM'  (Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Mathematics  & Medicine)  to  provide  opportunities  to  Indian  Women  Scientists,  Engineers  &  Technologists  to  undertake International  collaborative  research  in  premier  institutions  in  USA  for  duration  of  3-6  months.  Further, Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Re-orientation  Programme  (Bio-CARe)  for  women  Scientists  of Department of Biotechnology is aimed at career development of employed/ unemployed women Scientists. The scheme is open for all areas of Life Science / Biology.
- (c) & (d): Yes, Madam. The Department of Science and Technology has taken few initiatives to encourage women entrepreneurship  under  Start-up  India-Stand  up  India.  In  the  year  2014,  DST  and  Indo-US  Science  & Technology  Forum  (IUSSTF)  along with Anita Borg  Institute,  USA,  started  'Women  Entrepreneurship  Quest (WEQ)', which is a unique program designed to promote and showcase early-stage technology ventures that are founded  or  led  by  women  entrepreneurs.  The  program  is  one  of  its  kinds  to  be  organized  in  the  country  for tapping talented women entrepreneurs in technology. The top 10 winners of WEQ, are awarded fully paid, one week  exposure  and  experiential  learning  with  prominent  ecosystem  players  of  Silicon  valley    which  include academic sessions, practice pitching before Venture Capitalists, interaction with mentor network, sessions with successful entrepreneurs from iconic and potential startups, and so on. DST has also supported 6 weeks Women Accelerator  Programme-Empower,  which  has  components  of  strong  mentoring  and  preparedness  for  fund raising, dedicated exclusively for women entrepreneurs.  Another exclusive 4 months long mentorship initiative of DST is 'Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment (WEE)'. Mentorship program conducted through IITDelhi and  WEE  Foundation to empower and encourage women  entrepreneurs by training them in entrepreneurship skills, mentoring and enabling them to convert their idea(s) into successful business models.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.731 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/2/2018

## RESEARCH AMONG WOMEN RESEARCHERS

## 731. SHRI VIRENDER KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó  Ùðüëðó pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any programme to encourage women scientists in research activities; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has taken any initiative to encourage women entrepreneurship under start-up India, stand-up India in Science and Technology department; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

## òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

## (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)