Envoy seeks policy resolutions for women in science

Terming the involvement of women in the field of science 'as old as human civilization', Indian ambassador to United States Nirupama Rao on Thursday called for policy resolutions to increase the participation and retention of women in the field of science and technology.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the first women's science congress during the 99th National Science Congress at KIIT university here, Rao said, the real problem lies in retention of women who leave scientific workforce in large numbers owing to several factors ranging from society values to working at home.

“Several countries continue to seek policy resolutions to address the problems so that the retention of women in science is increased and doubling of efforts is required to make it inclusive,” said Rao.

Admitting that the number of women in science is still few and paucity of women in this field is a global phenomenon, the Indian ambassador said that gender based disparities have remained the most prevalent form of exclusion globally and Indian experience is no exception.

There is requirement of more qualified women for the overall growth of the country as no society can claim to be a part of modern civilized world without providing enabling environment for empowering the women, she added.

In 1975, the number of women engineers was 800 only. But this number has risen sharply to 276,806 in 2009-10 academic sessions as per the latest University Grants Commission (UGC) statistics. Similarly, the number of women PhD holders in country in science has increased from 80 in 1950 to more than 6,000 presently.

The former foreign secretary emphasized on the empowerment of women with new technical skills and scientific up gradation.

It may be noted that Government of India had set up a task force in 2005 for women in science. To implement and evaluate the recommendations of the task force, a standing committee has been set up under the chairmanship of minister of science and technology and earth sciences.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of state for human resources development D Purandeswari said that there is still a lot to do for women to bring them to the scientific main stream by freeing them from domestic drudgery. Education is the only pervading solution to all the problems which gives a boost to women to be associated with the world of science.

Gretchen Kalonji, assistant director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO and Geeta Bali, General President of the 99th Indian Science Congress also spoke on the occasion.