Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST)
The Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) has launched the ‘Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WEST)’ initiative.
WEST is a new initiative of I-STEM (Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map).
This initiative will empower women to contribute to the science, technology and innovation system.
STEM is a national web portal. Research tools/facilities are shared on this portal. In addition, it is used to promote collaboration between academia and industry (especially startups) in R&D and technological innovation.
STEM is an initiative of PSA under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) mission.
Through the WEST initiative, I-STEM will provide a platform for women researchers, scientists and technologists with special interest in science to conduct research in science and engineering.
The skill development programs under this initiative will provide training to women from science and technology backgrounds to work on their capabilities.
Also, access to research and development (R&D) facilities and R&D software platform will be provided through the I-STEM portal.
Other steps taken by the government-
- KIRAN (Knowledge Partnership in Research Advancement through Nutrition) Scheme: It aims to encourage women scientists through various programs in the field of science and technology.
- CURIE (Integration of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women’s Universities) programme: To develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in Women’s Universities.
- Vigyan Jyoti Yojana: It encourages girl students of classes 9 to 12 to pursue education in Science and Technology (S&T) and make a career especially in areas where the presence of women is very low.
- Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEM (STEM and Medicine).
Source- The Hindu
