Lok Sabha Question No. 1144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Women Scientist Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2020

## WOMEN SCIENTIST SCHEME

†1144.  SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

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

- (a) the manner in which Women Scientist Scheme is likely to be effective in increasing the number of women deployed in Indian research and development sector from 15 per cent to world level average of 30 per cent;
- (b) whether this scheme has drawn interest of women towards science and technology, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether safe work place has been made available for women under the said scheme 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) The  Women  Scientists  Scheme  (WOS)  provides  opportunities  to  women  scientists  and technologists who had break in their scientific career primarily due to family reasons. The Scheme gives women a strong foothold into the scientific profession, helps them re-enter into the mainstream and  provides  a  launch  pad  for  further  forays  into  the  field  of  science  and  technology  (S&T).  The Women Scientists Scheme has three components viz. Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A) provides opportunity in research and development (R&D) and work as bench-level scientist; Women Scientists Scheme-B (WOS-B) provides opportunity to work on S&T based solutions for problems existing in society  and  Women  Scientists  Scheme-C  (WOS-C)  provides  opportunity  to  work  in  the  area  of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) through one-year internship in said field. After selection in any of these three components, women scientists come out with better career opportunities in R&D sector, NGOs,  IPR  related  Law  firms  and  Institutions  as  well  as  provide  avenues  for  self-employment. Around 30% of women scientists supported under WOS-A and WOS-B are in mainstream science and around 60% women scientists trained under WOS-C are either employed in various firms or have become entrepreneurs.
- (b) Yes Sir. The continuous increase in number of proposals/applications under Women Scientists Scheme shows interest of women towards S&T. The proposals/applications received in WOS are 3,574 in 2017-18, 5,164 in 2018-19 and 6,369 in 2019-20.
- (c) Under Women Scientists Scheme, the selection of host institution is done by women scientists themselves and Head of the institution gives an endorsement to extend all facilities which also includes safe  work  place.  Further,  there  is  also  provision  of  change  of  Institution  in  the  scheme  if  women scientists face any kind of issue during in project implementation, including safety.
- *********