India Launches Groundbreaking Online Portal 'SWATI' to Empower Women in STEM Fields

New Delhi (November 17): In a significant move aimed at reducing the gender divide in science, technology, engineering, mathematics & medicine, India has launched an online portal called "Science for Women - A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)".

Developed, hosted, and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), the SWATI portal claims to be a unique initiative that provides an interactive database of all women scientists in the country. The database will be easily accessible with just one click, allowing users to search for information about individual women scientists.

According to Professor Subhra Chakraborty, Director of NIPGR, the portal aims to accelerate efforts towards including Indian women in science across various career stages and subjects. "The SWATI portal will provide authentic and statistically important research on the issues of equality, diversity, and inclusivity in our country," he said.

The launch of the portal was attended by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government, who emphasized the significance of "Science for Women & Women in Science". The event aimed to highlight emerging opportunities and inclusiveness of women in science & technology endeavors.

With its key objectives aligned with accelerating inclusive research and authentic representation, the SWATI portal is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping policy decisions that cater to woman-centric initiatives.