Women scientists at Defence Research and Development Organisation up 5-fold

Hyderabad: It's a little known fact that 15 per cent of scientists working at the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) are women. In a span of just two years, the number of women working in this premier scientific organisation has increased from around two-three per cent to 15 per cent. This does not satisfy Tessy Thomas, project director for the Agni-V missile programme and the first woman to head a missile project in India. Dubbed the ‘missile woman’ for her sterling work, she says, “Women should occupy 50 per cent of the positions.”

Women are attracted to the mechanical, electrical, civil and medical engineering departments. “The number would have been higher if recruitment had been consistent,” Ms Thomas said. The DRDO dedicated March 8, International Women's Day, to recognising the contributions of women in the scientific research and development sector.

“Due to significant national contributions from our women scientists, we have come a long way. The sustained efforts of our women scientists have made the country a power to be reckoned with in many areas, and has propelled us into the elite club of nations. The number of women in DRDO has increased in all positions, right from Scientist B to Scientist F,” she said.

Dr Subhash Bhamre, minister of state for defence, who was present on the occasion, said, “In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in effective women’s participation in all walks of life, but still there is a strong need to orient more and more women towards science and technology.”