Our Scientific Institutions

INDIAN WOMEN ASSOCIATION IN INDIA

Dilip M Salwi

The world cannot affort the loss of the talents of half of people if we are to solve the many problems which beset us," said the eminent American scientist and Nobel Laureats Rosalyn Yalow. Obviously, she was referring to the women who form half _ if not the better half _ the population of the world. In fact, in recent year, all the major world organisations like WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc. have recognised the vital role that a woman plays in not only educating the entire family but also in maintaining its health and fuel needs in a developing country. But much before this recognition dawned upon these organisations, a group of twelve Indian women scientists gathered and formed an association called "Indian Women Scientists' Association" (IWSA) more than 26 years ago in 1973 in Vashi, near Mumbai, with almost similar objectives.

"Often, women who undergo higher education don't sacrifice their families for professional satisfaction," said Dr. Sudha Padhye, the past President of IWSA and a college physics teacher, "But when they are free from family responsibilites, they yearn to take up scientific activities. IWSA provides them a forum for channellising their scientific knowledge for the benefit of women". Their knowledge is utilised for training young girls in various scientific vocations, including manufacture of consumer goods, in career counselling for girls, in science popularisation among children, in medical care and even in conducting surveys on woman-related issues. Some of these job-oriented courses have also been formally recognised by the S.N.D.T. University.

Today, IWSA has its own building complex spread over an acre of land in Vashi, containing a 140 room working women hostel, a laboratory and computer facility for science teachers and school students, a library, a day care centre, a medical dispensary, and a newly built auditorium. 1,400 women scientists from different parts of the country are its members, with eleven active branches in cities like Delhi, Pune, Bhopal, Roorkee, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kalpakkam, etc. Regularly meetings, conferneces and seminars that highllight issues that affect woman scientists as well as scientific issues that affect women are organised not only in the headquarters at Vashi but also in other branches.

Over the years, IWSA has organised several national and international conferences touching issues such as 'Specific Problems of Professional Women Scientists', 'Science Teaching, Nutrition, Family Planning, Indian Medicine, Health and Science Communication', 'Women and Environment', 'Role of Women in Science and Society Interaction', etc. During the IWSA Silver Jubilee International Conference on 'Expanding Frontiers of Science and Technology' held in 1998, two Noble Laureates Dr Rosalyn Yalow and Dr Dorothy Hopkins also attended the conference.

IWSA membership is open to science and engineering graduates and technical diploma holders, and Associate membership is open to any woman interested in science. In close touch with several woman bodies all over the world, IWSA also advises the Government and State Governments on various emerging woman issues. Of course, it has not ignored the underprivileged Indian woman living in rural areas. Under the guidance of the eminent scientists Dr Kamal Ranadive, several projects to acquaint the rural as well as tribal women with medical care and health awareness as well as safe womanhood have been taken up in the neighbouring Rajur Village and some villages in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Several municipal schools in and outside Mumbai have been adopted for improvement in science teaching.

To encourage women scientits as well as inspire girls and women to take up science careers, ISWA also gives awards, honours, and scholarships to deserving candidates every year. Among the several publications brought out from time to time are Down the Memory Lane, a collection of reminescenes of pioneering Indian women scientists, a directory of Indian women in science and technology, among other things. Besides, a newsletter on the IWSA activities is regularly brought out. "We've now the necessary infrastructure," said Padhye proudly, "It is now upto the women scientists to make best use of it for furthering their own - and society's - interests".

Shri Dilip M Salwi is a popular science writer and lives at M.I.G,Flat No 132,Pkt 8B,Sector 4,Rohini,Delhi-110085

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