Riya, Nikita Sharma, Vanshika Varshney, Twinkle Mukherjee, Khyati Gupta, Kavya, and many other women might have not been able to bring themselves to the mainstream, had they not bagged a scholarship to pursue their higher education.

These girls felt lucky enough to bag the L’Oréal India For Young Women In Science Scholarship to take care of their education expenses. The program provides a scholarship of up to Rs 2.5 lakh to support education expenses of girls from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Coming from a rural community and marginalised families where education for women was often overlooked, this opportunity not only lifted a financial burden but also gave them the confidence to challenge societal norms.

Today, Riya is a strategy analyst, having completed her engineering degree and successfully cracking the Common Admission Test (CAT) to secure admission to IIM Bangalore on her first attempt. Meanwhile, Vanshika serves as a senior technical officer at the Food Safety and Drug Administration in Meerut. Their success stories are two of many that demonstrate how scholarships can be a powerful tool to address gender disparity, drive economic growth, and inspire societal change.

Riya and Vanshika are among 450 girls from 21 states of India who have many things in common, including hardship and their aspiration to be self-dependent by equipping themselves with skills needed to stay ahead in a competitive job market in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

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Rise of women in STEM

In India, women now constitute 43% of enrolment in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) stream at the Higher Education level, who are in next few years expected to take up professional scientific roles. To support women and achieve gender parity in STEM and address issues faced by women in the S&T sector, such as unemployment and relocation, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) started WISE - KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) Scheme, benefiting over 2,153 women scientists in the last five years, reveals a data available on PIB.

“In the coming years, this trend will eventually reflect in higher women representation in science and technology institutions, industry, and startups,” said Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space.

Gender gap in education and employment

While scholarships open doors for women like Riya and Vanshika, systemic factors also play a crucial role in enabling women's participation in education and employment. Thanks to the women empowerment initiatives, revised laws, and policies, there has been a considerable increase in the Female labor force participation (FLFPR) rate in India. The latest Periodic Labour Force Survey for 2023 highlights that the FLFPR for the prime working age group (15 years & above) has significantly increased by 4.2% to 37.0% as compared to 32.8% in India from 23.3% in 2017-18. However, it is still not at par with the global average.

The data further adds that the major push came from the rural sector rather than the urban sector, where it increased by 12.0 and 3.4 percentage points, respectively. In rural areas, female LFPR has increased to 36.6% during 2021-22 as compared to 24.6% in 2017-18, showing an increase of 12.0% points. On the other side, female participation in urban areas was significantly lower than the rural areas. Female LFPR was 23.8% in 2021-22 as compared to 20.4% in 2017-18 in urban areas, showed an increase of just 3.4% points.

Factors such as supportive laws, cultural shifts, and educational opportunities act as both "push and pull" mechanisms for women's employment. However, barriers like societal norms and unequal access to economic opportunities persist.

The role of policy and support

Government initiatives like The Code on Social Security, 2020 are creating a supportive environment for women in the workforce. Provisions such as enhanced maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, mandatory crèche facilities, and safety measures for night shifts address critical barriers.

Despite economic growth and rising education levels, challenges remain. The World Bank Report “Reshaping Norms: A New Way Forward” highlights that economic development alone cannot eliminate gender gaps. Social norms continue to be a significant obstacle to equality.

Conclusion

Scholarships and systemic support are pivotal in reducing gender bias and creating a more equitable workplace. Programs like the L’Oréal India Scholarship and WISE-KIRAN are not just empowering individual women—they are laying the foundation for societal transformation. By investing in women’s education and employment, we create a ripple effect that benefits communities, industries, and the nation as a whole.

The journey to gender parity is ongoing, but with continued focus on education, empowerment, and supportive policies, a brighter, more inclusive future is within reach.