The Department of Science and Technology (DST) celebrated International Women’s Day at its premises at Technology Bhavan, New Delhi on the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” and deliberated on the necessity of investing in women’s health, education, and importance of creating an atmosphere that encourages women to put in their best.

Emphasising the significance of empowering women both at home and at the workplace, Joint Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) A. Dhanalakshmi underscored the need for concerted efforts to create an enabling environment where women can thrive, contribute, and lead.

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Prof Uma Kumar, Head, Department of Rheumatology, AIIMS, New Delhi spoke about the importance of investing in women’s physical, mental, and spiritual health and stressed support for research on autoimmune diseases that can affect the working capacity of women.

Dr Vandana Singh, Head of WISE-KIRAN Division spoke about how DST’s schemes have helped and encouraged women scientists and have played a role in the rapid rise of women researchers and principal investigators in the country.

Two technical sessions delved into critical aspects of women’s well-being and the entrepreneurial journey of women in developing knowledge-based start-ups.

In the session focusing on the holistic health of women, Gynaecologist Dr. Aparna Sharma, and Cardiologist Dr. Shashi Mohan underlined the importance of focusing on the physical and mental well-being of women and maintaining work-life balance. They discussed the challenges women face in balancing their professional lives with personal well-being and dwelt on prioritizing self-care and adopting healthy lifestyles.

In the session on the role of women in startups, women entrepreneurs and industry experts shared their experiences, challenges, and success stories. The session underscored the immense potential of women-led start-ups in driving inclusive economic development and fostering a culture of innovation.

The sessions brought together women from a range of disciplines and helped them to learn ways of navigating challenges from each other’s experiences.

A film on “Nari Shakti at DST” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPQgY2DFqcs was created and unveiled during the event. Further, a poster on women’s participation in STEM across different divisions of DST was launched. In addition, a dental health check-up camp was organised by Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) in the DST premises for oral hygiene.