A programme for Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research was launched by Minister for Science & Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan, to help bridge gap of gender disparity in the field of Science and Technology. This will include a fellowship called SERB – Power Fellowship and a SERB – Power Research Grants for women scientists.

 “This is a great scheme that would help and encourage women scientists to work in the field of science and technology along with several other programmes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) like Vigyan Jyoti and CURIE,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said while inaugurating the programme,

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since assuming office, has shown his commitment towards supporting greater participation of women scientists. He is working on a vision ‘Science for the Masses’, and women scientists have a greater role in it,” he added.

Dr Harsh Vardhan further said that the DST has already come up with various programmes aiming at increasing female presence in science, technology and innovation and taking care of disruption of career of women scientists due to situational changes.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, emphasised that DST is committed to empower women scientists and is already taking various steps to increase the number of women scientists in the field of science, technology and innovation. He also said that DST is going to ensure to have 25 per cent women scientists in any committee.

“There are many dimensions of the problem of gender disparity in the field of science and technology. We are bringing various programmes for women keeping in mind all the problems that could hamper their career growth, and we hope that these programmes would increase the number of women scientists in India”. Prof Sharma said.

The launch which was also attended by Professor Sandeep Verma, Secretary, SERB and Scientists from Ministry of Science and Technology echoed the intent of the government to bring more numbers of women scientists in the R&D ecosystem. The Fellowship and Grants will also serve as a benchmark of recognition in the national scenario and cultivate a women-friendly culture in the academic and research institutions and ensure more women in leadership positions in decision-making bodies.

Salient features of the SERB – Power Fellowship are given below:

I.          Target: Women researchers in 35-55 years of age. Up-to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time.

II.        Components of support: Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income; Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.

III.       Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.

Salient features of the SERB – Power Research Grants are:

I.          POWER Grants will empower women researchers by funding them under the following two categories:

i.          Level I (Applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions): The scale of funding up to 60 lakhs for three years.

ii.         Level II (Applicants from State Universities / Colleges and Private Academic): The scale of funding up to 30 lakhs for three years.

II.        POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG guidelines.

d.         While a Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the purpose will help in identifying the POWER Fellowship, the exiting Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) mechanism will be used to select the POWER Research Grants.

e.         It is proposed to institute 25 POWER Fellowships annually. A total of 50 Power Grants each will be sanctioned in Level I & Level II per annum.