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Concerned over the low representation of women in Science & Technology (S&T) in planning and policy making in the country, the Union ministry of science & technology has constituted a Standing Committee for promoting women in science. Prof. HS Savithri, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, is the chairperson of Committee which will make endeavours for creating gender enabling environment in S&T institutions in the country.
Senior officials in the ministry said that in recent years though there has been significant increase in enrollment of women in S&T at all levels, yet women are still not getting enough opportunities in academic institutions, R&D laboratories and S&T organisations. A low representation of women in S&T in planning and policy making is a matter of concern, officials said.
Officials further said that the department of science and technology (DST) has been making concerted efforts to identify issues facing women in science and to address them in order to bring greater representation of women in science. Adoption and execution of Women Component Plan, formulation of gender specific schemes, constitution of Task Force, gender budgeting, etc are various efforts made by DST in this direction.
The Standing Committee would take proactive measures to identify and correct any imbalances that still persist and hinder women in S&T. The Committee will also make endeavours for creating gender enabling environment in S&T institutions; recommend special measures to ensure growth of women in science; recommend programmes designed specifically for fostering utilising and supporting women in science; and monitor periodically implementation of its various recommendations.
Other members of the 18-member Standing Committee for promoting women in science include Prof. Lakshmi Kantam, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai; Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, DG, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi; Prof. Sulabha Kulkarni, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune; Dr Madhu Dixit, Director, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow; Prof. Asha Kishore, Director, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Science & Technology, Trivandrum;. Prof Rohini Godbole, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Prof Neeta Singh, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; Prof. Sumita Jha, University of Calcutta, Kolkata; Dr. Tessy Thomas, ASL, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad; Prof. Shobhana Narasimhan,Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore; Prof. AN Rai, Former VC, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong; Prof. Aditya Shastri, VC, Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Banasthali; Prof. Y Narasimhulu, VC, Rayalseema University, Karnool; Prof. TP Singh, Former Professor at AIIMS, New Delhi; Prof. AP Dash, VC, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur; Dr. HB Singh, DST, New Delhi; and Dr. Vandana Singh, DST, New Delhi.
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