Lok Sabha Question No. 210 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Women Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.210 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/7/2018

## WOMEN SCIENTISTS

210. DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) the number of women scientists working in various research institutions, State/Union Territory-wise; (b) whether there is a shortage of women scientists in the country or women are lagging behind in this field; (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to meet the shortage of women scientists; (e) whether there is any provision for providing special facilities for women scientists in laboratories/institutions keeping in view their domestic difficulties; (f) if so, the details thereof; and

- (g) the other steps taken by the Government to increase the number of women scientists in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN) ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a) As  per  the  latest  available  statistics,  39,389  women  scientists  are  working  in  various  research institutions across the country. However, the Department does not maintain state/UT- wise data. (b)  to  (g):  No  Madam.  There is  neither  shortage of  women  scientists  in  the  country  nor  they  are  lagging behind in the S&T field. However, their number is less as compared to male counterparts in this field. The Government has taken various corrective measures  to enhance  the participation  of women scientists  like launching a Indo-US fellowship for women in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in U.S.A; Women  centric  schemes and programs  under  the ambit of Knowledge  Involvement  in Research Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)  initiative;  Bio-technology  Career  Advancement  and  Reorientation  (Bio-Care)  for  career  development  of  employed/unemployed  women  scientists  apart  from providing relaxation  of  5  years  in  terms  of  upper  age  limit  to  women  candidate  to  be  eligible  for  all  the fellowships  (JRF/SRF)/research  associate-ships  awarded  by  CSIR  for  pursing  doctoral  and  post  doctoral research. Keeping in view the domestic difficulties,  provisions are  made by the institutes  to  provide special facilities like day care centre/crèche for children of women scientists and common room facilities, Maternity leave, and Child Care Leave etc. Preferential hostel and transport facility to women researchers/students/employees, flexible working hours, work from home facility is also made available in special  cases.  Institutes  have  constituted  special  committees  that  conduct  awareness  programs  on regular basis so that women are aware, where to fall back on, in case of any difficulties faced pertaining to gender related issues.

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