Lok Sabha Question No. 857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Engineering Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## Engineering Colleges

## 857. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government acknowledges the gender imbalance at engineering colleges across India and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to address this gender imbalance and increase enrollment of women into B.Tech, programmes?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) The details regarding number of boys and girls students enrolled in Technical Courses in the AICTE Approved technical institutes in the last three years is as follows:
- (b) The AICTE  is implementing scholarship scheme namely PRAGATI,  to financially assist girl students to take up  Degree/ Diploma Courses in AICTE approved  technical  institutions.    Moreover,  it  has  been  decided  to  increase female enrolment in B.Tech. programmes in IITs and NITs from 8% to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats. Further, the initiatives undertaken by UGC vis-à-vis participation of women in Higher Education is available at Annexure.

|   Sl. No. | Academic Year   |   Number of enrolled girls students |   Number of enrolled boys students |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|         1 | 2015-16         |                              392594 |                            1285950 |
|         2 | 2016-17         |                              369830 |                            1190043 |
|         3 | 2017-18         |                              356446 |                            1129984 |

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ANNEXURE  AS  REFERRED  TO  IN  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  857 TO BE ANSWERED  ON  23.7.2018  ASKED  BY SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI REGARDING Engineering Colleges

-  Gross  Enrolment  Ratio  in  higher  education  as  per  AISHE  2016-17  in  India  is 25.2%. While the GER for male population is 26.0% that for female is 24.5%. The GER  has  been  improving  over  the  years  because  of  the  several  initiatives undertaken by the Central Govt. Women participation in M Phil and PG courses is  more  than  male  enrolment.  PhD  level  has  58%  male  and  42%  female enrolment.
-  The MHRD, through the UGC, has been running various programmes/schemes for  improving  gender  participation  in  Higher  Education.  One  such  scheme  is Development  of  Women  Studies  in  Universities  and  Colleges  and  Capacity Building  and  Women  Managers  in  Higher  Education.  The  objective  is  to strengthen  and  sustain  Women  Study  Centres  in  Universities  by  establishing them  as  statutory  department  in  the  University  system  to  facilitate  their  own capacity to network with other constituents. This has increased the participation of women in higher education management for better gender balance. Up to 313-17,  as  many  as  163  Women  Study  Centres  have  been  established  and functioning in the university system.
-  There  are  special  fellowships  for  women  in  humanities  and  social  sciences including  languages,  which  provide  an  opportunity  exclusively  to  women  to carry out advanced studies and research in Indian Universities and colleges. The total number of slots available under the scheme is 200 per year. The fellowship amount is 38,800/- p.m. for 1st year, 40,300/- for 2nd year and 41,900/- for 3rd Year with contingency amount of 50,000/- p.a.
-  Keeping Swamy Vivekananda's ideas of women and to achieve and promote girl education UGC introduced Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Fellowship for Research and Social Sciences during 2014-15.
-  Similarly, the scheme of Post Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child is to promote girl education by supporting through scholarships to such girls  who  happen  to  be  the  only  child  in  their  families.  Girls  who  have  taken admission in Masters Degree programs in a recognised university/ PG college are eligible.
-  Female candidates are encouraged to pursue Basic Scientific Research Scheme, which is being implemented by the UGC. This scheme encourages the spirit of scientific research in women.
-  To look into the grievances of women employees at work places, the UGC has notified (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2015.
-  Gender  Champions  have  been  encouraged  in  all  Universities  as  responsible leaders who  will  facilitate an integrated and  inter disciplinary  approach, understanding the socio  cultural  needs  of  the  gender.  Towards  this  end,  UGC has issued guidelines and shared with all institutions to implement.