Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082509440500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Seminar calls for encouragement to women

Staff Reporter

There is no difference in the abilities of men and women, says Bangalore University VC

WELCOME: Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda (right) being greeted by Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University H.A. Ranganath at the valedictory function of the national seminar on `Women: Science and Technology,' in Bangalore on Thu rsday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: A national seminar on "Women: Science and Technology" has urged the Government to offer sex education, moral education and career counselling and take up gender awareness and sensitisation programmes for children.

The recommendations of the seminar, which was inaugurated by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam here on Monday, were placed at the valedictory function of the seminar on the Jnana Bharati campus of Bangalore University here on Thursday by Sudha Bogle, professor, Department of Psychology, of the university.

The seminar was organised by the Centre for Women's Studies, Bangalore University, and sponsored by the University Grants Commission.

The seminar felt there should be alternative incentives for women taking up research. They should be given incentives and opportunities comparable to the private sector.

Childcare facilities and schools for young children near the parents' workplaces should be provided.

There should be women-friendly environment that offered physical security, especially for those working in laboratories late into the night. Sexual harassment of women at the workplace should be severely dealt with.

Home science as a career should be made attractive for both boys and girls. Girls should be offered career counselling right from the school level to realise their real aptitude.

In his valedictory address, Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda said the future belonged to women. "Today, it is (women to men ratio) 30:70, tomorrow it will become 40:60, the day after 50:50 and later the situation gets reversed with womenfolk leading the world," he predicted.

Presiding over the valedictory function, Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor H.A. Ranganath noted that the abilities that men and women possess were the same. If equal opportunities were provided, the performance too would be the same. As such, women should be offered more visibility, adequate placement, given proper recognition in fellowships and sufficient representation in decision-making bodies, so as to enable them to excel in their chosen fields.