Lok Sabha Question No. 3003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Women Scientists Scholarship Scheme
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: HARISH DWIVEDI, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3003 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16/03/2016

## WOMEN SCIENTISTS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

## †3003. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA ALIAS HARISH DWIVEDI: DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL ''NISHANK'':

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a) the  success  achieved  in  encouraging/  enrolling  women  scientists  in  the  field  of science under women scientists scholarship scheme being run by the Government;
- (b) whether  any  scheme  has  been  envisaged  to  promote  women  scientists  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether there is any scheme to promote women in scientific field in private sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the total amount distributed as scholarship under all scholarship schemes during the last two years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a) Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology  has  successfully  supported  more  than  3850 women scientists under its women scientists scholarship scheme being run by Department of  Science  &  Technology.  In  addition,  more  than  200  (Employed  and  Unemployed) women Scientists have been supported under the Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (Bio-CARe) scheme of Department of Biotechnology.

- (b) Yes, Madam. The Department of Science & Technology (DST) started Women Scientist Scheme, now known  as  KIRAN  ( Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing ) for women scientists & technologists in the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in career and who desire to return to mainstream science and  work  as  bench-level  scientists.  Under  this  scheme,  women  scientists  are  being encouraged  to  pursue  research  in  frontier  areas  of  Science  &  Technology  and  on problems/issues  of  societal  relevance  besides  taking  up  Science  &  Technology  based internship in Intellectual Property Rights domain followed by selfemployment/entrepreneurship. In addition, in 2009, DST initiated a special programmeConsolidation of University Research for Innovation & Excellence in Women Universities -CURIE)-  for  Women-only  Universities  in  the  country  to  strengthen  their  R&D

infrastructure  in  order  to  facilitate  women  who  wish  to  pursue  higher  studies  and subsequently careers in science & technology.  In order  to enhance the participation of Women Scientists in Biotechnology Research, the Department of Biotechnology launched a Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation Programme (Bio-CARe) for women  scientists.  This  is  mainly  for  Career  Development  of  employed/  unemployed women Scientists. The scheme is open for all areas of Life Science / Biology. (c) Yes, Madam. Under Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) of KIRAN programme of DST, one year training in the domain of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) is given to women scientists who wish to pursue a career as IPR specialists. Since the inception of the scheme, four hundred five (405) women scientists have been trained under the WOSC Scheme. About 60% of them are pursuing their career in the area of IPR and  are working in leading IPR attorney firms, IP Departments of Government agencies, Multi National Companies and Knowledge Processing Organizations.  One hundred thirty eight (138) women scientists are registered as 'Patent Agents' with the India Patent Office and 12 women scientist alumni have started their own IP attorney firms and IP consultancy firms. (d) The year-wise amount distributed under Women Scientist Scheme  during  the last

- two years  and in the current  financial year is given below:

| Financial year   | Amount distributed   |
|------------------|----------------------|
| 2013-14          | 43 Crores            |
| 2014-15          | 44Crores             |
| 2015-16          | 58 Crores            |

So  far,  total  of  Rs.  71.20  crore  have  been  sanctioned  including  scholarship provided to the women scientists under BioCARe.

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