Lok Sabha Question No. 1879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Participation of Girls in STEM Subjects
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav, Bidyut Baran Mahato

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1879 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29/11/2019

## PARTICIPATION OF GIRLS IN STEM SUBJECTS

1879. SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether as per the data by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, girl students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at the masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. level comprise 22 per cent, 28 per cent and 35 per cent respectively; (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for low rate of participation of girl students in STEM subjects in higher education; (c) whether to increase the participation of girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for higher education,  the  Government  is  planning  to  introduce  a  new  programme  called  'Vigyan  Jyoti'  for  the  girls  from  class  9  to  12 students; (d) the details of the components and facilities likely to be provided by the Government to the selected/interested girls under the said programme; (e) the details of institutes selected by the Government to provide training to selected girls under the said programme; and (f) whether the Government proposes to provide any financial support for the entire duration of the training to the girls under the said programme and if so, the details thereof?

## 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) Yes Sir. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) analysed data mentioned in report of All India Survey for Higher Education (AISHE) for 2017-18 done by Ministry of Human Resource Development and found girl students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at the Masters, M.Phil. and Ph.D. level comprise 22, 28 and 35 per cent respectively.

(b) There are numerous reasons for the low rate of participation of girl students in STEM subjects in higher education. Some of reasons are, lack of awareness about career options in STEM field, low accessibility of higher education institutions with STEM subjects in nearby areas, financial limitation, safety issues, etc.

(c) Department of Science and Technology has already started Vigyan Jyoti programme in 2019-20.

(d) Under the programme, various activities such as Science Camps, special lectures/classes, counseling of girl students as well  as  parents  and  interaction  with  role  models  are  planned.  Selected  girl  students  will  also  get  opportunity  to  visit  nearby Institutions  of  National  Importance  and  industries.  Access  to  the  Atal  Tinkering  Labs  (ATLs),  where  available,  will  also  be provided to the selected girl students under the programme.

(e) Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  has  been  selected  to  implement  Vigyan  Jyoti  programme  in  50  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidhyalayas (JNVs) located in different parts of the country during the current financial year 2019-20.

- (f) Yes, Sir. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) provides scholarship of Rs.2,000/- per month to selected girl students for entire duration of Vigyan Jyoti programme.
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