Lok Sabha Question No. 4345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Science and Technology Schemes for Women
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4345 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/12/2019

## SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHEMES FOR WOMEN

4345.  DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  initiatives  to  ensure  participation  of  women  in  the field of science and technology through implementation of suitable gender enabling programmes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the salient features of the Science and Technology Schemes for Women;
- (c) the  achievements  of  the  said  schemes  in  providing new  opportunities  for  gainful employment to women especially in rural areas; and
- (d) the  status  of  implementation  of  these  schemes  in  various  States  including  Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh?

## 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.  In  the  year  2014-15,  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  started Knowledge  Involvement  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)  Scheme  to promote  women  scientists.  It  is  primarily  aimed  at  improving  gender  parity  in  Science  & Technology  sector  by  inducting  more  women  talent  in  the  research  &  development  domain through  various  programmes,  namely,  'Women  Scientist  Scheme  (WoS)'  for  women  scientists having break in career, 'Consolidation of University  Research  through  Innovation  and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE)' programme for development of infrastructure  and research facilities, 'Mobility Scheme' to address relocation issue of working women scientists and 'Indo-US  Fellowship  for  Women  in  STEMM  (Science,  Technology,  Engineering,  Mathematics and Medicine)' to provide international exposure to women scientists. KIRAN Scheme also has capacity  building  programmes  under  'National  Program  for  Training  of  Women  Scientists  &

Technologists'  working  in  Government  Sector  in  the  fields  of  research  &  development, entrepreneurship,  managerial  skills  and  leadership.  In  addition  to  above,  the  Department  of Biotechnology (DBT)  is also  implementing Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Reorientation  Programme  (BioCARe)  to  enhance  the  participation  of  Women  Scientists  in Biotechnology research.

(b) The  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST)  has  various  Science  and  Technology programmes  for  women.  The  salient  features  of  these  programmes  are  to  bring  back  women scientists in mainstream science after their career break, provide R&D infrastructure support to women  universities,  facilitate  opportunity  of  international  collaboration,  sustain  career  after relocation  and  training  &  skill  development.  'Science  &  Technology  for  Women'  Scheme empowers  women  at  grassroots  level  through  inputs  of  Science  and  Technology.  The  broad objectives of this scheme are:

- (1) To support research, development and knowledge generation with respect to various stages of life cycle of women.
- (2) To promote research, development and adaptation of technology to create gainful employment  potential  of  women,  reduce  their  drudgery,  as  well  as  improve  working conditions of women in local areas through S&T inputs.
- (3) To improve quality  of  life  as  well  as  promote  health  and  nutrition  of  women  through  the application of S&T.

(c) The  'Science  &  Technology  for  Women'  Scheme  is  focused  on  empowering  women  in livelihood  generation  through  suitable  technologies  and  available  natural  resources  in  their native  areas,  which  has  led  to  income  generation  and  creation  of  livelihood  opportunities  for them. The scheme is implemented through grant-in-aid projects to S&T based Government and Non-Government  Organizations.  Besides  individual  projects,  the scheme  also focuses on establishing Women Technology Parks (WTPs) that are envisaged to act as a resource centre to train women in rural technologies based on the natural resources for their livelihood and income generation. Around 7,000 women have been trained over last three years through 42 WTPs and individual projects located in different parts of the country.

(d) In  last  three  years,  under  S&T  for  Women  Scheme,  82  individual  projects  have  been implemented including six (6) in Karnataka, one (1) in Odisha, five (5) in West Bengal and three (3) in Uttar Pradesh. In addition, one (1) WTP in Odisha, two (2) WTPs in West Bengal and four (4)  WTPs  in  Uttar  Pradesh  have  been  established.  Under  'Women  Scientists  Scheme  (WOS)', 1,377  women  scientists  and  technologists  have  been  supported  including  eighty  three  (83)  in Karnataka, thirty two (32) in Odisha, eighty five (85) in West Bengal and eighty (80) in Uttar Pradesh  in  last  three  years.  Forty  (40)  women  scientists  got  opportunity  to  visit  USA  under 'Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM'. Further, eight (8) women universities have been supported under 'Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE)' Programme including one (1) in Karnataka and one (1) in Odisha. During 2019, Artificial Intelligence facility has also been established in six (6) women universities under CURIE-AI component including one (1) in Karnataka.

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