Asserting that the Universities and academic institutions should introduce more technical and entrepreneurship courses for the development of women, Manju Sharma, the recipient of Padma Bhushan and principal advisor, Department of Science and Technology, Gujarat Government has said that the technological empowerment of women was very essential.
Delivering her convocation address at the 6th convocation of the Karnataka State Women’s University here on Tuesday, Dr. Sharma said that the inclusiveness and the greater participation of women in the developmental activities and social reforms had to be integral part of socio-economic progress.
She felt the need to remove the cultural, gender and attitudinal related problems in order to facilitate the continuation and progress in science and technology for women.
She said that in order to attract more young girls in the field of science and technology, it was essential to continuously review the policies and procedures for the transparency in appointments, recruitments, promotions and awards.
“Good management practices and their adoption in work places or academic institutions are very critical to ensure the women’s involvement in science. It is therefore, it is relevant that the science and technology must be harnessed in a gender sensitive manner. Thus, the need for confidence building among the women scientists is urgent”, Dr. Sharma noted.
With regard to the Women’s University here, she said that the institution which was meant only for women, could provide fruitful and appropriate platform for their progress.
In her address, Vice Chancellor, Meena Chandavarkar listed out various achievements and milestones achieved by the University in the last over ten years of its establishment.
On the occasion, she thanked the government for expanding the jurisdiction of the University to entire State, and also for setting up of its regional centre in Mandya.
She said that the University has started 269 Correspondence Courses after the establishment of Directorate of Correspondence Courses by the Union Government.
Prof. Chandavarkar informed that this year, some 8622 students completed graduation and received 46 gold medals, 24 students completed Ph.D and seven did their M.Phil.
The University, this year offered honorary doctorate to three women achievers; Indumati Rao in the field of research, Madhu Singhal in the field of social work and Vilasvati Khuba for spreading Vachanas of Basaveshwara.
