Minister of Human Resource Development Smriti Zubin Irani has asked the women scientists of DRDO to play a greater role in promoting girl education and bringing a change in rural lives. Inaugurating a National Workshop on “Women Innovators for Excellence in Research and Science” Winners-2015 on the occasion of International Women’s Day, here today, she said women scientists can be a source of inspiration for countless girls who seek opportunities to realise their dreams. She said her Ministry has launched the Udaan initiative to prepare girls coming from disadvantaged sections to excel in competitive exams to enter IITs and IIMs. Some of the brightest minds in DRDO can interact with girls who are trying to take flight.
The Minister said the women scientists of the premier research organization can also contribute to the success of the ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ mission and address issues confronting women in rural India. The programme was launched last year piloted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) across the country with an aim to improve the lot of rural India through technological interventions. Speaking on this occasion, Distinguished Scientist & DG (Aero Systems) Dr. K Tamilmani said that there is growing realisation that limitations of women’s access to resources and decision making also limits their ability to develop and exercise their full capabilities for their own benefit for the society. This realisation has prompted efforts to equalise opportunities for men and women, he said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Outstanding Scientist and Director, Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) Dr. Chitra Rajagopal said “Innovation grows in an environment, where one is free to experiment and learn by trial and error.” She further added “Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into products or services that create value.” The two–day National Workshop was hosted by Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) and over 200 women scientists from different laboratories of DRDO participated.