Lok Sabha Question No. 253 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Women in Scientific Research Work
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Keshari Devi Patel

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

## STARRED QUESTION No.253 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/3/2021

## WOMEN IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK

†*253.  SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the number of women doing scientific research work in the  country  is  much  low  as  compared  to  men,  if  so,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of steps being taken to increase the interest/participation of women in scientific research work;
- (c)      the  details  of  the  specific  facilities  being  extended to girls and women to ensure their increased participation in research work;
- (d)    whether it is a fact that out of around 43 per cent girl students who pursue technical education, only 14 per cent get employment; and
- (e)    if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृ वी वान मंी डॉ . हष वधन

(a) to (e):    A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a)  TO (e)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  253  FOR  ANSWER  ON  12.03.2021 REGARDING 'WOMEN IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK'.

- (a)     Sir, as per recent report 'Research & Development Statistics at a  Glance-2019-20',  published  by  the  Department  of  Science  and Technology,  56747  (16.6%)  women  are  directly  engaged  in  R&D activities  as  on  April  01,  2018  out  of  total  3.42  lakh  R&D  personnel. Furthermore, there are 646 (18.55%) and 1056  (53.5%)  women scientists  working  in  the  Council  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research (CSIR)  and  autonomous  research  institutions  of  the  Department  of Biotechnology respectively. Additionally, CSIR is also supporting about 9000  doctoral  and  postdoctoral  research  fellows  of  which  44%  are women, at present. The main reasons of lower representation include social and economic barriers, mobility, responsibility of family, break in career, age bar in regular employment, etc.
- (b)      The  Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  has  several  women centric programmes for promoting women's participation in scientific research work. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has started 'Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)' Scheme in the year 2014-15 to increase participation of women in the field of Science and Technology (S&T) through  gender  enabling  programmes.  One  of  the  programmes  viz. 'Women Scientist Scheme' provides career opportunities to unemployed women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in career. There are three major components of Women Scientists Scheme 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) 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 launched a program '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  the  USA  for  duration  of  3-6  months.  Under KIRAN, institutional support is also provided through 'Consolidation of University  Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women Universities (CURIE)' Programme in order to enhance women's participation  in  Research  &  Development  activities  in  S&T  Domain. The DST has started a new programme 'Vigyan Jyoti' for meritorious girl  students  of  Class  9  to  12  in  order  to  increase  participation  of women in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and mathematics), especially  in  the  fields  where  women  are  underrepresented.  Another new initiative of DST 'Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions  (GATI)'  has  been  started  during  2019-20  which  aims  to transform institutions for more gender sensitive approach and inclusiveness with ultimate goal to improve the gender equity in S&T domain. During 2020-21, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has started 'SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)' scheme with aim to address comparatively lower participation of women scientists in research activities and to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering. The Department of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  is  also  implementing  'Biotechnology  Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (BioCARe)' since the year 2011 to enhance the participation of Women Scientists in Biotechnology research.

- (c)      Department  of  Science  and  Technology  has  started  a  new initiative called, Vigyan Jyoti to encourage meritorious girls of class 9 to 12 to pursue career in underrepresented areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Under Vigyan Jyoti, various activities such as Science Camps, student-parents counselling,  visit  to  nearby  Institutions  of  National  Importance  and Industries  and  interaction  with  role  models  are  being  conducted  to increase their interest in Science & Technology domain. Selected girls have  also  been  facilitated  with  special  lectures/classes  for  better understanding of the subjects. The students are also provided access to  the  Atal  Tinkering  Labs  (ATLs),  wherever  available,  to  carry  out tinkering  activities.  Another  programme,  Consolidation  of  University

Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women  Universities (CURIE) is also supporting women universities for developing state-of the  art  research  facilities  which  has  ultimately  benefited  around 10,000 girls studying in basic and applied sciences at Under-graduate / Post-graduate and Ph.D level. The CSIR also gives relaxation of 5 years in  upper  age  limit  to  women  candidates  to  be  eligible  for  award  of Fellowship/Associate-ship in order to promote women in science. The Indian Academy  of Science (IAS) and Indian National Science Academy  (INSA)  have  constituted  a  panel  on  'Women  in  Science' which  conducts  seminar/workshops  and  publications  and  is  creating awareness on issues concerning women scientists. In addition to this, SERB  has  instituted  'Women  Excellence  Award'  in  order  to  reward young women scientists below age of 40 years, who have excelled in science.

(d)  and  (e):   No,  Sir.  As  per  the  information  furnished  by  All  India Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE),  the  enrollment  of  girls  in AICTE approved institutions under PG & Research work is 40 per cent, out of that approximately 29 per cent girls have received placement during last three years.

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