Women biotech scientists await funds for research , Pg10

Key Highlights:

• 75 women scientists selected for the DBT Biocare programme on March 30 are awaiting promised funds and salaries.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), has run the Biocare programme since 2011.
• A doctoral woman researcher is eligible for a ₹60 lakh grant for three years, including a monthly salary of ₹75,000.
• The DBT Secretary stated that the funds would be released "in the next 10 days" due to a change in fund disbursal policy since November 2024.

Detailed Insights:

• The DBT Biocare programme aims to support the career development of unemployed women scientists by providing them with their first extramural research funding from the government.
• From 2020 to 2024, approximately 50 women scientists annually benefited from the programme, as per a Rajya Sabha response in March.
• Selected scientists are unable to commence their research projects due to the absence of sanction letters and funds, with some having declined other opportunities based on the grant's conditions.
• The delay in fund release is attributed to a change in the fund disbursal policy implemented since November 2024 by the Science Ministry.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Extramural Research: Research conducted outside of an organization's internal facilities, often funded by external grants.
• Grant: Financial assistance provided to an individual or organization to support a specific project or purpose.
• Fund Disbursal Policy: Guidelines and procedures governing the allocation and distribution of funds for various programs and initiatives.