SERB – POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)
Context: Union minister launched DST initiative SERB – POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research)
- It is a scheme to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research funding in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories.
- “Enhancement of participation and promotion of women in the research workforce is one of the prime priorities of our Government”
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
- It is a Statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
- It has been contemplating to institute a scheme to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research in various S&T programs in Indian academic institutions and R&D laboratories.
Significance of this move
- Integration of the gender dimension in research design
- Enhancement of participation and promotion of women in the research workforce
- Women empowerment
- Cultivate women friendly culture in academic and research institutions and
- ensure more women in leadership positions in decision making bodies
SERB – POWER Scheme will have two components
(i) SERB-POWER Fellowship
(ii) SERB- POWER Research Grants.
The salient features of each of these are as follows:
- 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.
- 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.
- Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension.
1.png)
