Women in STEMM: Paving the Way for Gender Equality

The 108th edition of the Indian Science Congress, organized by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) under the Department of Science & Technology, was held at Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University in Maharashtra. This year’s theme, “Science and Technology in Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment,” aimed to shed light on the pivotal role of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM).

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However, the congress missed some significant aspects:

Highlights of the Congress:

Discussions and presentations centered around research connecting women’s empowerment with tribal development, digitization, sustainable development, and nation-building.
Notably absent were discussions about the unequal division of labor, social policies impacting women’s work, and institutional protocols supporting women scientists.

The Condition of Women in STEMM:

Globally, less than 30 percent of researchers are women, as per the UN.
Out of 959 Nobel Prize recipients, only 61 are women.
In India, just 18.7 % of the country’s researchers are women. According to data from the Centre’s Department of Science and Technology.
Surprisingly, none of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology and 7 Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research have women directors.
Fewer than 10 women lead National Institutes of Technology and autonomous institutions under the Centre’s Department of Biotechnology and DST.

The Need for Women in STEMM:

Increasing gender parity could create 230 million new jobs, potentially boosting GDP by US $14 trillion by 2030.
Enhancing gender diversity in professional fields, including STEMM, is closely related to economic development.
India introduced the gender budget in 2005-2006 to ensure equitable resource allocation and gender mainstreaming.
In her 2022-23 Budget Speech, the Union Finance Minister emphasized the significance of “Nari Shakti” (women’s power) for India’s bright future.

Hurdles for Women in STEMM:

Systemic biases can act as deterrents, particularly with women facing penalties after career breaks.
Decision-making committees may exhibit gender bias, making it less likely for women researchers to receive promotions.
Societal norms and family upbringing have influenced the mindset of children, with girls sometimes feeling unprepared to pursue careers in STEMM.

Governmental Efforts and Initiatives:

Various measures have been introduced to support women returning to science after a break, including fellowships worth Rs. 25,000-55,000 under programs like the Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) Scheme.
The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched the “SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)” scheme.
The Women Entrepreneur’s Quest (WEQ) Programme, initiated by DST in partnership with the Anita Borg Institute, supports women entrepreneurs in technology.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced equal match fees for women cricketers. Thus addressing a significant gender disparity.

Empowering women in STEMM fields is not only a matter of gender equality. It also has a crucial step towards fostering innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development. The Indian Science Congress and governmental initiatives play a vital role in advancing this cause.