Vigyan Prasar and other institutions of outreach of Science & Technology have  an increasingly significant role for empowering women.  Delegates to the   Nation Seminar on Gender, Technology and Communication organised in New      Delhi on   10 and 11, May, 2010deliberated on different facts of this important  debate and adopted the following recommendation:

1.             Creating awareness about technologies that have contributed or have potential to help women to increase productivity, reduce drudgery, create new entrepreneurial ventures or otherwise access new income generating pursuits, is important. Researchers and extension communicators must be fully sensitized on the role of these technologies, content, problems and barriers to extension.  

2.             Preparing a multi-media document (in several Indian languages) on how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can empower women from low-income groups may be developed after proper verification to serve as a manual for representatives of science based organizations (government and non-government).

3.             Preparing a database of the schemes/initiatives of different ministries/departments of Government of India, foundations, trusts and international organisations like TWOWS (Third World Organisation of Women Scientists), multilateral organizations and make them accessible to women’s groups in different parts of the country. These will require to be regularly updated.

4.             Bringing out the lives and works of the recent past and present eminent women scientists, physicians, engineers and entrepreneurs for projecting  them as role models will serve to guide parents and teachers and inspire the youth in general and girls in particular.

5.             Commissioning studies to examine gender bias in the existing science textbooks/ popular science books in regional and national languages must be given priority and efforts for balancing these in the subsequent editions need to be encouraged.  

6.             Increasing the participation of women in science and technology communication particularly those who have formal education in science and competence in communication but are not working or working part time or having career break. Needs to be encouraged with innovative and attractive schemes.

7.             Commissioning surveys to understand the problems faced by women scientists, professionals and workers in industry, service sector etc. Should be encouraged. And results analyzed to offer policy amendments. 

8.             Training of middle and high school science teachers enabling them to create a positive attitude and a gender sensitive teaching environment in their classes and in extracurricular activities must be given high priority.

9.             Bringing out a series of popular publications addressing the health, livelihood and other practical needs of women in rural and tribal areas.

10.         Designing and creating a technology portal for technology generators, developers, users and others may be initiated at the earliest.  This must also include traditional knowledge and technologies after scientifically verifying and vetting them.

11.         Channels for recognising and show-casing grass root level rural women communicators.  Examine ways and means of providing performance based support.

12.         Facilitate networking between educational institutions, NGO’s and government extension organization for effective outreach.

13.         Success stories may be compiled along with causes for failure in adopting a technology that will help technologists and researchers in their development work.