Women Empowerment in IITs

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have witnessed a significant rise in female student enrollment due to a 20% supernumerary quota introduced in 2018. This initiative has gradually increased female representation across various IITs over the past six years.

Implementation of Supernumerary Quota

• In 2018, IITs set aside extra seats specifically for women, following recommendations from a committee led by Timothy Gonsalves.
• Most IITs initially implemented a 14% quota in 2018-19, which increased to 19% by 2019-20, and reached 20% by 2021-22.
• Data from 21 of the 23 IITs indicates a steady increase in female student numbers.

Notable Increases in Female Enrollment

• IIT-Kanpur: Female representation rose from 908 in 2017 to 2,124 in 2024, a 133% increase.
• IIT-Roorkee: Numbers increased from 1,489 in 2019-20 to 2,626 in 2024, a 76.36% jump.
• IITs Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Kharagpur also showed similar growth.
• IITs Delhi and Bombay surpassed the 20% threshold even before the quota's official implementation in 2017.

Institutional Changes and Initiatives

• IIT Bombay introduced orientation sessions for girls and their parents, boosting female enrolment from 570 in 2017 to 694 in 2024.
• IIT Delhi hosted open house sessions to encourage female student participation.
• IIT Madras shifted its women’s hostel locations for better accessibility, reflecting increased female presence and participation.
• Institutes are promoting gender sensitization and inclusive environments; IIT Roorkee installed security cameras and increased women guards.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

• Despite progress, stereotypes, mentorship gaps, and lack of inclusive spaces persist.
• At IIT Kanpur, space allocation for women's hostels led to concerns over reduced sports facilities.
• Some male professors at IITs remain unaware of behaviors that may make women uncomfortable.
• Institutions are working to improve physical infrastructure, including more residences and washrooms for women.

Impact on Campus Life

• Gender sensitization workshops are now mandatory at IIT Bombay.
• There is an increased female sports culture, with IITs Delhi and Bombay forming their own women's football teams.
• The enhanced diversity has shifted classroom dynamics and perspectives.

Future Directions

• Efforts are ongoing to create more inclusive academic and social environments at IITs.
• Studies are being conducted on women's experiences in STEM fields to further understand and address challenges.

India's Healthcare Crisis: Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

India is experiencing a significant healthcare crisis characterized by an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. This has resulted in a growing financial burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.

Statistics and Current Scenario

• NCDs accounted for approximately 65% of all deaths in 2022, up from about 50% in 2010-13.
• One in four adult men are hypertensive, and one in eight are diabetic.
• Breast, lung, and cervical cancer diagnoses are increasing, with median diagnosis ages occurring earlier than global averages.

Economic Impact

• The Union Budget for 2024 allocated ₹87,657 crore to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, marking a 13% increase from the previous year.
• Household health expenditure still drives nearly 50%+ of the spend, one of the highest globally.
• The World Health Organization projects the economic burden of NCDs in India to surpass ₹280 lakh crore by 2030.

Preventive Measures and Policy Recommendations

Proactive prevention is essential to control healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. Key recommendations include:

• Regular screenings for high-risk individuals to reduce incidence of serious conditions.
• Current health checks in metro cities cost anywhere between ₹8,000 and ₹15,000.
• Tax incentives and subsidised screenings are crucial policy tools.
• The current ₹5,000 tax deduction under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act for health checks needs revision to at least ₹15,000.

Three-Pronged Approach to Preventive Care

1. Strengthen Early Intervention:
   • Enhance capabilities through Ayushman Health and Wellness Centres.
   • Utilize AI-enabled imaging for affordable mass screenings.
2. Improve Screening Adoption:
   • Encourage insurers and private providers to offer subsidised screening for individuals aged 40-60.
   • Consider funding from healthcare cess and proposed 35% GST slab on tobacco and sugar products.
3. Increase Tax Deduction Limits:
   • Further incentivize comprehensive health checks by increasing the tax deduction limit.

By prioritizing preventive care over reactive treatments, India can achieve a healthier and more economically resilient future.