News Excerpt:

The Ministry of Science & Technology launched the “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal, aimed at creating a single online portal representing Indian Women and Girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine).

About the SWATI portal: 

• The Portal is a complete interactive database; and the first of its kind in India which is developed, hosted and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi.
  

• It was launched on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in  Science at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi.

Objectives:

• Serve in policy-making to address the challenges of Gender-gap by encouraging and bringing together, all the young women scientists, faculty members, researchers and also the young start-ups from India and abroad under one umbrella for pursuing the cause of Science.
• Focusing on the importance of “Science for Women & Women in Science ” as well as emerging opportunities and inclusiveness of women in S&T endeavours. 
• This will be beneficial towards the dissemination of knowledge, new advances in fundamental science and the role/importance of innovation and entrepreneurship development in strengthening the backbone of Atmanirbhar Bharat. 
• To scale up the effort exponentially to include each and every Indian woman in science, across all career stages and subjects, spanning both Academia and the Industry enabling reliable and statistically significant long-term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India.
• Create an active search engine and searchable database (Name, Affiliation, Area of interest).
• Recognizing women's pivotal role in societal progress, the initiative seeks to empower women through increased participation in decision-making processes, especially in STEM fields. 
• Science education is highlighted as a means to enhance awareness and promote socio-economic development among women.
• Current Statistics: 3000 ‘WiS (Women in Science) Data Cards’ have been incorporated.

Sections Included: 

• Icons- Awardees (Padma / Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar / Stree Shakti Science Samman) & Directors, Secretaries Academy Presidents
• Faculty- Indian Universities, Autonomous organizations including S&T Ministry/ CSIR/ DBT/ DST/ CSIR/ MHRD/ UGC/ GATI/ KIRAN
• Research fellows- Post doctorates, JRFs, SRFs, Technical Staff
• Students- PhD Scholars, Research Interns, Graduates, Postgraduates, Undergraduates
• WiS Entrepreneurs, Startups, Business & Science Administrators
• STEMM background professionals in alternate careers (e.g.- Science, Journalism etc.)

Challenges: 

• Adding more WiS data - need to represent PAN INDIA.
• A complete redesign of the portal is required as many will be unable to upload in the current portal.