A women’s group handed over scholarships to girls from financially weak backgrounds who are studying science at the undergraduate or higher levels.
The idea is to encourage more girls to take up science and to ensure that those who do so do not give up because of a lack of funds.
Ten girls received Rs 10,000 each from the University Women’s Association of Calcutta.
For most of the recipients, the hardships have increased manifold since the pandemic. Life had always been tough and Covid made things much more difficult.
For instance, Suman Pasi a 23-year-old woman is doing BTech in computer science at a private college.
Suman’s father, who had a small shop, had taken a loan to get his daughter admitted to an engineering college because she was one of the toppers in her class through school.
Last year, her father passed away and Suman has been unable to pay the fees. Her brother quit his studies and is managing the shop.
“I have applied for a waiver. Despite not being able to pay the fees for the current semester the college is allowing me to continue,” said Suman, who is in the third year.
Fasiha Khatoon, 18, is a first-year student of botany who teaches children inher locality to pay for the examination fees and laboratory materials.
Her elder brother has taken up the work of a driver so that she and her other three brothers can study.
“I want to become independent, both financially and emotionally. For that I have to work hard,” said Fasiha.
She earns Rs 800 or 900 as tuition fees per child but there are children whom she also teaches on concession.
“They have similar financial problems as I do,” Fasiha said.
Addressing the girls was Debashree Ghosh, professor, School of Chemical Science, at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, who was felicitated for her achievement in the field of science.
Ghosh told the students that it is often the mindset at home that deters girls from taking up science.
“Often there is a tendency to tell girls that science and math are difficult for them. When they are repeatedly told that they start believing in it,” said Ghosh.
She said there are scholarships available if women want to take up science. “But the want to take up science has to be encouraged. From anecdotal evidence, women are encouraged to take up jobs that would have kinder work hours where a woman can do a job after taking care of her family responsibilities,” said Ghosh.
