Sensitising Innovations Nageshwar V G Neela

Background Less than 30% of Indian women are literate More than 60% of primary school drop outs are girls Less than 1% of patents are registered by women

Reasons for aberration Strong economic and cultural barrier Westward focus as a parameter for evaluating success Marriage based transfers, household chores and other family responsibilities Absence of bio diversity during formative years

Institutional inertia Male bias acts as a foundation for formulation of incentives, recognition, etc Absence of gender neutral knowledge networks Acknowledgement of men for innovations when the innovation is actually done by its female members

Possible solutions Creation of grass root level innovation database Acknowledgement of innovation to their true inventors Incentivising innovation for women

Institutional level changes Flexi timings Use of I.T. systems for knowledge network creation Sensitising the male colleagues

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