The University Grants Commission (UGC) will allow over 10,000 institutes, both colleges and universities, to offer women’s studies programmes, a move the education regulator believes will highlight women’s contributions to society and the economy.
Eligible colleges will get a grant of Rs 25 lakh per annum and universities Rs 35 lakh per annum from the UGC.
UGC will monitor and engage in both teaching and research activities on issues related to women and also promote entrepreneurship among them.
These centres or departments will undertake field research in areas on women leadership, gender gap analysis, inclusion of women in economic and social development and existing policy and legislation related to women. Besides, it will also ask such centres to conduct research on women’s contribution to science and technology.
Women and their contributions to the economy have been a debate in India, particularly the participation of the woman labour force. In India, the women labour force participation rate is 27% against 33% in Bangladesh, 61% in China, 51% in Myanmar, 57% in the UK, 55% in the US and 82% in Nepal, according to World Bank data.
This despite robust economic growth, rising incomes and improvements in female literacy. Even the gender pay gap is high since women workers earn 19% less than men on average, according to a recent report by Monster India.
Such centres will help in pursuing a comprehensive, critical and balanced understanding of India’s socio economic realities, UGC said. The initiative will include “women’s contribution to society and social processes, and women’s perception of their own lives, the broader social reality and their struggles and aspirations.”
Source: Hindustan Times dated April 3, 2019
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