My greetings to the women scientists of this country on International Women’s Day.  It gives me immense pleasure to Launch this Discussion Forum on Science for Women.  Appropriately named SWATI - Science for Women : A Technical Interaction, this Discussion Forum will provide a platform for all scientists to interact very closely on important issues related to Science for Women.  Dept. of Biotechnology and Dept. of Women and Child Development in association with other scientific ministries and departments had organized a National Conference on Women’s Day last year which had brought together nearly 400 scientists resulting in fruitful discussion and very good recommendations.  One of the main recommendations was to create a platform for more networking and interaction amongst the scientists. 

Through this Discussion Forum I am confident that my fellow scientists will put forth some valuable suggestions for the future programmes and policy initiatives with regard to S&T for Women, reaching the unreached, setting up of Women Empowerment Network Centres, as also issues related to entrepreneurship promotion for women scientists, easy access of credit and marketing facilities and institutional networking.  This Forum should also aim at effectively disseminating information, creating awareness on the various technologies and innovations available for women empowerment. An effort should be made to bring together the existing information, so that there is value addition of the local specific knowledge and recognition of the innovations and developments that take place at the gross root level.

I am happy to note that the initial response to the setting up of such a Forum has been very encouraging.  I convey my good wishes to all women scientists for a healthy, fruitful and scientific interaction.  Let us hope through science we can transform the life of our people.

(Manju Sharma)