Lok Sabha Question No. 4063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: DISHA
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Richard Hay

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4063

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10/08/2016

## DISHA

## 4063.  PROF. RICHARD HAY:

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

- (a) the salient features and present status of scheme "DISHA";
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  earmarked,  allocated  and  utilised  under  this  scheme  since  its inception, year-wise;
- (c) the number of women who have been provided opportunities under this scheme so far since its inception, year-wise;
- (d) the details of the target fixed and achieved so far, year-wise since its inception;
- (e) whether the target under this scheme is running behind schedule; and
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the Government in this regard?

## 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) The salient features of DISHA scheme, which was started in 2012-13 by Department of Science & Technology, were to increase the contribution of women in Science and Technology (S&T) sector. It was primarily aimed at bringing gender parity and equity in S&T  sector  by inducting more women talent in the research & development (R&D) domain through various programmes, namely, Fellowship Schemes for women who had a break in career [i.e. Women Scientist Scheme-A (WOS-A) to enable unemployed women scientists & technologists to pursue research in basic or applied sciences, Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B) to address societal issues at the grassroots level and find appropriate S&T solutions, and Women Scientist SchemeC  (WOS-C)  to  provide  alternative  career  option  of  self  employment  by  training  women  in Intellectual Property Rights]. DISHA also provided Institutional support through Consolidation of  University  Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women  Universities  (CURIE) programme and addressed challenges being faced by women mostly in health & hygiene, nutrition and  occupational  hazards  by  establishing  Women  Technology  Parks  (WTP).  In  2014-15,  this scheme was restructured to make it more holistic and named as KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) which covered all the women-centric programmes of Department of Science & Technology. In 2016-17, a new component namely 'Mobility' has been launched under KIRAN to address relocation issue of working Women Scientists. Further, they are also encouraged to avail of capacity building initiatives including training related to basic research,  societal  development  and  self-employment.  DST  has  also  constituted  'Standing Committee for Promoting Women in Science' in May, 2016 comprising several eminent scientists

& technologists, to identify  various  other  issues  faced  by women  in  S&T  domain  and  suggest measures to address the same.

## (b) The budget allocated and utilized under DISHA is as follows -

| Financial Year   |   Budget allocated (Rs. in crores) | Budget utilized (Rs. in crores)   |
|------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 2012-13          |                                 48 | 48                                |
| 2013-14          |                                 43 | 43                                |
| 2014-15          |                                 44 | 44                                |
| 2015-16          |                                 58 | 58                                |
| 2016-17          |                                 60 | 24.7 (till 31 st July 2016)       |

(c)  &  (d):    The  year-wise  details  of  number  of  women  who  had  a  break  in  career  and  been facilitated under the scheme to return to mainstream research in science, since its inception are given in table below. The Table also indicates details of target fixed and achieved, so far.

| Financial Year             |   2012-13 |   2013-14 |   2014-15 |   2015-16 | 2016-17                 |
|----------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------|
| Number of women benefitted |       242 |       377 |       247 |       311 | 227 (till 31 July 2016) |
| Target                     |       200 |       300 |       300 |       300 | 300                     |

(e) No, Madam. Targets have been achieved.

(f) Does not arise.

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