Opportunities after mid-career break for women, particularly those in the fields of science and technology, narrow down. This is more evident for those who belong to Tier-II and -III cities whose options to participate in Women Scientist Scheme by the Central Government become negligible, according to an internal study by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
The result of the study shows more than 50 per cent opportunities are in 10 cities, of which eight are capitals.
It further shows that more than 50 per cent opportunities are concentrated in only five States, while six States/Union Territories have no share. The study is based on data of 1,020 scientist from 382 institutions, selected between 2012 and 2016.
The Scheme encourages a participant to prepare a project, and work on it at R&D Centre/Institutions. Grants of up to ₹30 lakh are provided as well. “When a woman in mid-career break wants to pursue research, she prefers to do that at a nearby location. This is mainly because of motherhood or family reason. Now the problem is, most of the R&D Centres are located in metros or bigger cities or near them. It is difficult for these women to travel the distance, and the net result is that the women from Tier-II and -III cities have no option but to compromise,” a government official told BusinessLine.
Scheme to address issue
The scheme is implemented by the DST. According to the preface of the scheme, a large number of well-qualified women are left out of the S&T activities due to various circumstances, usually typical to the gender. Of the various challenges faced, most often the “break in career” arises out of motherhood and family responsibilities.
To address such issues, the Women Scientist Scheme was launched in 2002-03. This initiative is primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years, who take a break, but subsequently want to return to the mainstream.
More areas covered
The scheme has three versions: WOS-A, WOS-B and WOS-C.
The first one provides a platform to women scientists and technologists to pursue their research in basic or applied sciences, in areas of science and engineering.
The second one focuses on projects related to Science & Technology (S&T) interventions for societal benefit; the third one, implemented by the Patent Facilitating Centre of Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC), facilitates an internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for self-employment. The official said that such a study will also help promote more R&D Centres, in areas beyond metros and big cities.
“Talent is available there. There is a need to provide enough infrastructure to promote that,” he said. Giving an example, he said the Manipur R&D Centre has attracted many from eastern India, mainly Bihar.
The S&T Department has clubbed all these programmes under one umbrella known as ‘KIRAN’ (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) which addresses issues such as unemployment and relocation.
Now, this concept also has a ‘Mobility Scheme’ which aims to provide an opportunity to women scientists who face difficulties in their present job due to relocation and will act as filler, while other career options are explored.