Lok Sabha Question No. 728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Taskforce on Women Researchers
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KAMLA DEVI PATLE

## (a) Yes, Madam.

- (b) & (c):  Government of India set up a Task Force on Women in Science in the year 2005. The Task Force had members representing different disciplines of science, institutions and different regions of the country. After 10 meetings, Task Force submitted its report in 2010-11. One of the mandates of Task Force was to suggest measures to motivate girls to take up S&T for higher education and develop a scientific temper and awareness. In this regard, Task Force specifically recommended summer/winter science camps for girls who have opted for science, well-planned role model programme with successful women scientists and special fellowship  scheme  for  girl  toppers  in  university  examinations.  The  Task  Force  also  recommended constitution of Standing Committee under the Ministry of Science & Technology to take proactive measures to  correct  any  imbalances that still  persisted  and hindered women in science. Department of Science and Technology  thus  constituted  'Standing  Committee  for  Promoting  Women  in  Science' in 2015-16  to recommend special measures to ensure growth of women in science and to design programmes specifically for fostering, utilizing and supporting women in science and thus reduce the gender gap.
- (d) & (e):  Department of Science and Technology (DST),  through its 'Women Scientist Scheme (WOS)' provides career opportunities 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 WOS, namely, i) Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A) for conducting research in Basic & Applied  Sciences,  ii)  Women  Scientists  Scheme-B  (WOS-B)  for  research  projects  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. Further, DST has conceived and launched a Pilot Project during  2017-18  for  intervention  at  school  level  to  significantly  enhance  participation  of  girls  in  higher education  and  careers  in  Science  &  Engineering.  Twelve  premier  academic  institutions  from  different geographical locations are involved at the pilot project stage. Under this Pilot Project, 21 days residential programme for meritorious girls studying in Class XI and is envisaged that encompasses various activities in line with the recommendations made by the Task Force.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.728 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/2/2018

## TASKFORCE ON WOMEN RESEARCHERS

## †728. SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PAATLE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has constituted any taskforce for the development of talent of the women in the field of scientific research; (b) whether  the  said  taskforce  constituted  in  respect  of  women  has  submitted  its  reports  to  the Government; (c) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto; whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  include  women  talent  in  scientific  research  in  the
- (d) country; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken in this direction?

## 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)