Lok Sabha Question No. 5490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: KIRAN
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5490

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/3/2018

## KIRAN

5490. SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  running  a  programme  called  Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) and if so, the details thereof along with the aims and objectives thereto;
- (b) the salient features of the said programme;
- (c) the total amount disbursed under the said scheme since its inception till date, year-wise;
- (d) the number  of women  scientists working in various research institutions and technology departments/agencies of the Government; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve the participation of women scientists in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER

## OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) Yes, Madam. In the year 2014-15, Department of Science and Technology (DST) started Knowledge Involvement  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)  Scheme  to  provide  various  career opportunities to women scientists by bringing women-specific programmes/schemes under one umbrella. It is  primarily  aimed  at  bringing  gender  parity  in  Science  &  Technology  (S&T)  sector  by  inducting  more women talent in the research & development (R&D) domain through various programs. The objectives of KIRAN scheme are as follows:
1. To retain women in science and help re-entry of women scientist after a break into career paths within S&T sector.
2. Enhance the representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
3. To  implement  programmes  under  different  categories  keeping  in  view  the  individual  capability, competency and aptitude in the context of basic research, societal development and self employment.
4. To provide avenues for capacity building, knowledge and skill enhancement both at national and global level.
5. To provide career substance through mobility initiative especially to overcome the issues and challenges on account of relocation faced by employed women scientists.

(b) KIRAN is a holistic scheme that includes various programmes to address different challenges faced by  women  scientists  and  technologists  in  S&T  domain.  Gender  mainstreaming  of  women  in  S&T  sector having break in career is brought about  through three components of Women Scientists Scheme (WOS) [WOS-A  for  conducting  research  in  Basic  and  Applied  Sciences;  WOS-B  for  projects  in  research  that encompass  S&T  interventions  for  Societal  Benefit  and  WOS-C  that  enables  them  to  become  intellectual property  Rights  (IPR)  professional.  In  2016-17,  'Mobility'  component  was  introduced  under  KIRAN  to address relocation issue of working Women Scientists. In 2017-18, DST also launched 'Indo-US Fellowship for  Women  in  STEMM'  (Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Mathematics  &  Medicine)  under  KIRAN  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,  DST  has conceived a new programme 'Vigyan Jyoti' during 2017-18 for intervention at school level to significantly enhance participation of girls in higher education and careers in Science & Engineering and launched a Pilot initiative in 14 premier academic institutions from different geographical locations. Under this Pilot Project, residential  programme  of  3  weeks  duration  is  envisaged  for  meritorious  girls  studying  in  Class  XI  that encompasses  various  activities  aimed  at  mentoring  and  motivating  them  to  pursue  higher  studies  and careers in science & engineering. Further, institutional support is also provided through Consolidation of University  Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women  Universities  (CURIE)  Programme  to facilitate & augment women's participation in R&D activities in S&T Domain.

(c) Since the inception of KIRAN, around Rs. 235 crores (Rs.44 crores in 2014-15; Rs.56 crores in 201516; Rs.60 crores in 2016-17 and Rs.75 crores in 2017-18) has been disbursed in various programmes.

(d) According  to  Official  Statistics  available,  as  on  01.04.2015,  about  13,313  women  scientists  are working in various research institutions and technology departments/ agencies of the Government.

(e) Under  KIRAN  Scheme,  several  women-specific  programmes  are  being  implemented  in  order  to improve  women's  participation  in  S&T  domain  through  gender  mainstreaming,  overseas  opportunity, addressing relocation issue of working women scientists, self employment, improvement of research facilities in women universities, training & skill development, etc. 'Women Scientist Scheme' under KIRAN 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 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. In 2016-17, 'Mobility' component has been introduced  under  KIRAN  to  address  relocation  issue  of  working  Women  Scientists.  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. 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.  'Consolidation  of  University  Research  through Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE) Programme' of KIRAN has also an important role in enhancing women's participation in Research & Development activities in S&T Domain. In CURIE, budgetary support is extended to women only Universities for development of research infrastructure and creation  of  state-of-the-art  research  laboratories.  Recently,  DST  has  launched  Pilot  of  new  programme 'Vigyan Jyoti' during 2017-18 for intervention at school level to significantly enhance participation of girls in higher  education  and  careers  in  Science  &  Engineering.  Fourteen  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  is  envisaged  that  encompasses  various activities. DST has also constituted 'Standing Committee for Promoting Women in Science' in May, 2016 in order to enhance participation of women in S&T sector.

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