Kovind concerned over skewed gender ratio in IITs
Kharagpur (West Bengal), July 20 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday expressed concern over the skewed gender ratio in technical institutes of the country, particularly at the IITs, and stressed the need for more participation of girl students in higher education. particularly in science and technology.
Addressing the 64th Convocation of IIT-Kharagpur, he said it should be a national priority to get more girl students in technical institutes and the IIT community must take the lead.
"Without meeting this challenge and without providing the necessary opportunities for our girl child and young women, the development of Indian society can never be possible," the President said.
He pointed out that while over 1.6 lakh students appeared for the IIT Joint Entrance Examination, only 30,000 of them were girls.
In undergraduate class of IIT, 10,878 students got admission, out of them only 995 were girls. "After that 11,653 students were enrolled among which only 1,925 were girls which is a little above 16 per cent which is not acceptable at all," he said.
"IIT Kharagpur must act, because it is located in a state (West Bengal) that has historically produced illustrious women achievers who have contributed a great deal to nation building and to our society."
Pointing to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was also present on the dais, he said: "We are fortunate that one of them, Mamata Banerjee, is present with us today."
However, Kovind also mentioned that IIT Kharagpur has the largest percentage of women in leadership roles among all IITs, which can inspire junior girl students.
In this context, the President referred to the Infosys Foundation that funds women researchers attending major international conferences. "This is a good step but a long term process," he said.
He also unveiled the plaque of a girls' hostel and a guest house in the name of one of his predecessors A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was also present on the occasion.
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Explosion near CRPF School in Delhi caused by lit cigarette butts: Report
New Delhi: The investigation team that probed the explosion that took place outside the CRPF School in the Prashant Vihar area of the city on October 20 morning has reportedly not found any terror force behind the blast.
The investigation team, consisting of Delhi Police and staff members from central agencies, has stated in its report that cigarette butts thrown by a local resident might have come in contact with industrial waste and have caused the explosion. Circumstantial evidence does not show the incident to have a terror angle to it, reports The Indian Express.
The Delhi Police, the city bomb squad and the fire brigade had rushed to the spot following the explosion, which was initially believed to have been caused by a crude bomb. The forensic experts who inspected the spot hinted at the presence of potassium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide and some electrical wires there. The school wall had been damaged and the windows of a car nearby had shattered in the explosion.
The investigation team scanned the CCTV camera footage and zeroed in on around 10 people questioned. A senior police officer said that a North Delhi-based businessman from Prashant Vihar was found to be present at the spot around five minutes before the explosion, as he had come there on Sunday morning to walk his dog. The CCTV footage showed him smoking and, after questioning him, the team concluded that he had left lit cigarette butts before leaving the spot, the officer added.
The spot where the explosion took place is learned to have been usually used for dumping garbage and also has a public urinal.
An officer has said that the Delhi Police had consulted forensic and technical experts of the National Security Guard regarding the things found on the explosion site but are yet to get the report. The officer added that they have found no detonator so far.
