Lok Sabha Question No. 1050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Women Technology Parks (WTP)
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Shantanu Thakur

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1050 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## WOMEN TECHNOLOGY PARKS (WTP)

## 1050.   SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

## SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI:

SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)       the details and number of Universities in which the modern infrastructure has been developed in order to attract and impart training to the students under KIRAN  (Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing) programme alongwith the developments made thereunder;
- (b)        the  details  of  the  role  played  by  the  Women  Technology  Parks  (WTP)  in developing the infrastructure and also imparting training to students; and
- (c)        the  details  of  measures/steps  taken  by  WTP  to  encourage  and  support women in the country?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE, MINISTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)        Consolidation  of  University  Research  for  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  women Universities  (CURIE)  Programme  under  KIRAN  (Knowledge  Involvement  in  Research Advancement through Nurturing) Scheme is aimed to develop research infrastructure and  creation  of  state-of-the-art  research  laboratories  in  Women  Universities  of  the country.  Since  the  inception  of  the  programme,  Nine  (9)  women  universities  viz.  i) Avinashilingam Institute for Home  Science and Higher Education for  Women, Coimbatore,  Tamil  Nadu;  ii) Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, Rajasthan; iii) Sri Padmavati  Mahila  Vishwavidyalayam,  Tirupati,  Andhra  Pradesh;  iv)  SNDT  Women University,  Mumbai,  Maharashtra;  v)  Mother  Teresa  Women's  University,  Kodaikanal, Tamil  Nadu;  vi)  Karnataka  State  Akkamahadevi  Women's  University,  Vijayapura, Karnataka; vii) Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, New Delhi, Delhi; viii) Rama Devi Women's University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha and ix) Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Sonipat, Haryana have been supported under  CURIE programme.  Basic  and  Applied  Sciences  Departments  of  these  women  universities have  been  equipped  with  modern  sophisticated  instruments  through  CURIE  support. The  total  financial  support  of  Rs  43  Crore  (approx.)  has  been  provided  to  women universities under this programme. In addition to this, facility of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab has also been established in Six (6) women universities during 2019-20 to develop pool of AI skilled women workforce for better opportunities in research and employment. Department  of  Science  &  Technology  has  invested  Rs.  4.20  Crore  to  establish  AI facilities in beneficiary women universities. With this support, women universities have started various programmes and activities such as Certificate/Diploma/Elective Courses in  AI,  foundation  course  on  AI  for  Under  Graduate  students,  summer/winter  schools, etc. for training of students in AI field.

(b)        Women  Technology Parks (WTPs) are envisaged to act  as scientific resource centre where necessary support is made available to train women at grassroots level. During  the  last  five  years,  42  Women  Technology  Parks  have  been  established  in various  parts  of  the  country.  Under  WTPs,  several  capacity  building  programmes  are being conducted for women to improve their skills through Science & Technology (S&T) based rural technologies, livelihood generation, improving the quality of life by reducing drudgery, better resource management through value addition, etc. The infrastructural support is extended to these WTPs for procurement of equipment which are required for training  of  women  beneficiaries.  The  WTPs  are  designed  for  livelihood  generation  of women  at  grassroots  level,  however,  women  students  can  also  avail  the  benefit  of training programmes conducted in these WTPs.

(c)       Women Technology Parks (WTPs) play a major role in identifying demand and appropriate  technologies  and  further  to  train  women  at  grassroots  level  in  these technologies.  This  results in  increased productivity  and  income generation  of  women. The training programmes under WTPs are compliant with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) which encourages women to undertake training at WTP.

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