Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan launches helpline for women scientists, students, researchers

On International Women's Day, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday launched a helpline number for women students, researchers, entrepreneurs and scientists to get their queries related to the ministry's programmes answered.

The helpline number is 011-26565285 and it will be open during office hours -- 9:30am to 5:30 pm -- on working days.

They will also get information about qualifications or other requirements to avail benefits of schemes under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Vardhan said.

During another International Women's Day function at the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), secretary at the department of science and technology Ashutosh Sharma said the newly launched Vigyan Jyoti scheme was to encourage women to pursue science.

The TIFAC is an autonomous body under ministry.

Launched by President Ram Nath Kovind last month, the Vigyan Jyoti scheme identifies girl students at the district level with interest in science.

"Selected women from more than 500 districts, would be given opportunities to attend science camps at IITs, NITs and other leading institutions of science and technology education where women are not adequately represented," Sharma said.

He emphasised the role of intellectual property in the innovation eco-system and congratulated women scientists who have completed one-year training on Intellectual Property Rights under KIRAN, a programme of the ministry.