Nearly 3% women scientists selected for training, 33% for research by DST in 5 years: Govt

NEW DELHI: Only 2.97% of women scientists got selected for training under the Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A), according to government data. The scheme was launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) for providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-60 years who desire to return to mainstream science and work as bench-level scientists.

Giving details of the number and percentage of women scientists who got research projects sponsored under the Women Scientists Scheme, the minister of state of ministry of science and technology and earth sciences Jitendra Singh said: “A total 1,199 women scientists got research projects out of 3,453 women applied during the years 2017 to 2022.”

WOS-C scheme also aims to train women having qualifications in science, engineering, medicine or allied areas in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and their management for a period of one year. “The training will allow them to work from their homes and thus maintain a good balance between professional and domestic demands,” the official website read.

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However, out of the 12,804 scientists who applied, only 381 candidates, ie. 2.97%, got training under the scheme between 2017 to 2022. The numbers shared by the government showed that although the department received several applications, the number of selected candidates from many states in the last five years remains zero.

Even though 172 applicants applied from Jammu and Kashmir none were selected. Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Goa, Puducherry are some of the other states which have zero women scientists selected for the scheme.

According to All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) data, more women are pursuing science degrees than men now. In 2020-21, out of the 48.18 lakh candidates pursuing a science degree, 25.05 lakh (52%) were women. A total of 6.79 lakh students enrolled in science postgraduate programmes, of whom 4.16 lakh (61.3%) were women.

The Women Scientists Scheme provides Rs 25,000 per month for MSc in Basic or Applied Sciences, BTech, MBBS or equivalent degree, Rs 30,000 per month for MPhil, MTech, MPharma MVSc or equivalent degree, and Rs 35,000 per month for PhD in Basic or Applied Sciences or equivalent degree.