Lok Sabha Question No. 2063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-07
Subject: Women Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, P.R. SUNDARAM, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2063 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7/3/2018

WOMEN SCIENTISTS

2063. SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

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

(a) the details of the number of Indian women scientists, engineers and technologists across the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether  the  percentage  of  Indian  women  scientists,  engineers  and  technologists  is  still  less  as compared to male scientists, engineers and technologists, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is planning/has planned any fellowship programme with foreign countries especially for women in Science and Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the other steps taken by the Government to increase the number of women scientists in the country?

## 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)

(a)  &  (b):    Yes  Madam.  As  per  available  statistics,  39,389  (13.9%)  women  out  of  the  total  2.83  lakhs scientists, engineers & technologists were employed in the R&D establishments across the country. However, the department does not maintain state/UT-wise data. The reasons are family responsibilities, cultural and societal  constraints  often  affect  research  career  of  women  scientists  and  academicians  in  Science  and Technology (S&T) domain, thus forcing them to either take a break or opt out of career. Pursuing scientific research  career  along  with  socio-cultural  responsibilities  often  becomes  a  major  challenge  for  women scientists, engineers and technologists.

(c) &( d): To encourage women professionals in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and  Medicine  (STEMM),  the  Ministry  has  taken  various  steps  to  enhance  their  research  capacities  and capabilities  like  launching  a  Indo-US  fellowship  for  women  in  STEMM  field  to  undertake  international collaborative  research in  premier  institutions  in  U.S.A,  Women  centric  schemes  and  programs  under  the ambit  of  Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)  initiative,  Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Re-orientation  (Bio-Care)  for  career  development  of  employed  / unemployed women scientists; apart from providing relaxation  of 5  years  in  terms  of  upper  age  limit  to women candidate to be eligible for all the fellowships(JRF/SRF)/research associate-ships awarded by CSIR for perusing doctoral and post doctoral research.

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