Women are leading prestigious science projects like Aditya L1 mission, Chandrayaan3 etc. but women scientists constitute less than 20 per cent, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology.
Replying to a Starred Question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said, women have started assuming leadership roles in science projects. Cutting edge Space Research programmes like the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 solar mission have women scientists in leading positions including Project Director.
“The number of women scientists is still lower compared to the males, to be precise it is 18.6%, the R&D projects run by women are up to 25 per cent, but the higher education enrolment has increased tremendously over the last few years, it has gone up to 43 per cent, which means, tomorrow when these girls take over those positions, these proportionate number of working scientists will also go up further,” he said.
“The number of women scientists is still lower compared to the males, to be precise it is 18.6%, the R&D projects run by women are up to 25 per cent, but the higher education enrolment has increased tremendously over the last few years, it has gone up to 43 per cent.”
Women now constitute 43 per cent enrolment in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) streams at Higher Education level, and are in next few years expected to take up professional scientific roles.
In the coming years, this trend will eventually reflect in higher women representation in S&T Institutions, Industry and Startups, according to him.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the common realisation is that in the Science fraternity the Women have already evolved from the participatory role to the leadership role. Reassuring the House that there is no gender bias in promotions, he said, the overall representation of Women in S&T jobs will soon improve.