SWATI Portal to address gender imbalance in Indian Science

Source: The post SWATI Portal (Science for Women: A Technology & Innovation) has been created, based on the article “Launched on International Day For Girls and Women in Science, will SWATI break old habits?” published in “Indian express” on 13th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance – mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

New: The article discusses efforts to reduce gender gaps in Indian science. It mentions the launch of SWATI on February 11, a portal aiming to list every woman in Indian science. It also highlights past initiatives and policies to support women in STEM fields. SWATI Portal to address gender imbalance in Indian Science

What are India’s Past Efforts to Address Gender Imbalance in Indian Science?

2004 INSA Report: The Indian National Science Academy’s report was a pioneering effort, being the first government-supported document to discuss the gender gap in STEM fields. It highlighted discrimination based on gender and caste in the workplace.

2008 Initiatives:

Lilavati’s Daughters: The Indian Academy of Sciences (IASc) released this compendium to showcase the achievements of women scientists.

National Conference: Organized by a Department of Science and Technology task force, it included over a thousand women scientists. Significant promises were made by then Science Minister Kapil Sibal, including flexible working hours, in-house creches, and research grants for women scientists. However, the committee for implementing these measures was not successful.

2010 IASc Report: This report, by a team of sociologists and scientists, focused on why women scientists leave academia. It revealed that while men mostly blamed family and sociocultural factors, women pointed to a lack of opportunities and organizational barriers.

Recent Progressive Policies: The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) charter and the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020 have adopted more inclusive and progressive language. These policies consider factors like caste, transgender identity, and gender-neutral parental leave, showing an evolution in approach.

SWATI Portal Launch in 2024: SWATI, launched on February 11, 2024, is a portal aimed at listing all women in science in India. It was first announced in 2021 but only recently became active.

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What is The Significance of SWATI Portal?

Comprehensive Database: SWATI aims to list every woman in Indian science, creating a unique and extensive database.

Inclusivity: It includes all non-male genders, recognizing diversity in the scientific community.

Breaking Barriers: By not limiting to those with PhDs, SWATI acknowledges various capacities in which women contribute to science.

Increased Visibility: The portal can enhance visibility and representation of women in STEM fields.

Step Towards Equality: SWATI represents a significant effort towards addressing the gender gap in Indian science, promoting more equitable participation.

What Should be Done?

For a better future, India needs to fully implement existing promises like flexible work hours and support for women in science. It’s crucial to involve women in creating policies and recognize broader issues like caste and transgender identity, as in recent policies. The SWATI portal should be used effectively to support and connect all women in science.

Question for practice:

Discuss India’s efforts to address gender imbalance in its scientific community.