Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar announced here on Friday that the Centre had decided to increase the women representation in IITs from the current 8 per cent to 20 per cent.
Talking to media persons after the 51st meeting of the Council of IITs held at IIT-Bombay at Powai in north-east Mumbai, Javadekar said: “Although a number of women students cleared the IIT entrance examinations, not many joined the courses offered by the various IITs across the country. We have decided to increase the number of seats for female students in IITs. In effect, we would like to increase the female representation in IITs from the current 8 per cent to 20 per cent”.
The Minister said that in an effort to prevent brain drain, a proposal was afoot to provide an assistance of Rs 75,000 per month per selected student for Research and Innovation, under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme.
Javadekar said that the Higher Education Finance Agency Fund which was announced in the budget would be augmented by raising money through bond market to create research infrastructure in IITs. He said that wellness centres would be created for students of IITs to enable them to handle stresses.The Minister said that at the IITs’ council meeting, it had been decided to have a strong induction programme for students to adapt to the IIT campus life.