Dr Reddy’s Foundation (DRF) has announced an initiative called ‘Sashakt - Women for Science’ to encourage young women to pursue a career as a scientist.

The project offers scholarships women looking to chart research careers by studying taking up a BSc in pure/natural sciences.

The support is financial (up to ₹80,000 per year for three years of graduation) as well as through mentorship, said Shamik Trehan, CEO of DRF.

DRF is a non-profit set up in 1996 by Anji Reddy, founder of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

The fondation plans to give away 25 scholarships in the upcoming academic year. The criteria for selection will be good academic record and admission into 12 recognised colleges identified by DRF for the present. Girls from rural and economically backward backgrounds will be given preference, Trehan told BusinessLine .

Noted missile scientist Tessy Thomas has expressed appreciation for the DRF project, saying it is a good way to increase the percentage of women scientists from the present 14 per cent.

In addition to Thomas, scientists like Rita John, Head of Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Madras and Sumera N Hasham from Dr Reddy’s have already agreed to mentor the young women. “We will look for well-known women scientists from national labs and heads of departments from various universities to mentor the students. In the next three years we plan to support up to 100 students,” Trehan said.

The financial support will take care of college fees and residential expenses, he added.

L’Oreal India, a subsidiary of the French cosmetics multinational, also offers science scholarships to young women from economically weaker sections.

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