Current Programmes

3          Women empowerment through S&T intervention – New initiatives under All India Coordinated Programmes 

3.1       Development of Low Cost Sanitary Napkins using Cotton Knitwear Waste 

            DST, GOI has got a prototype developed for production of low cost sanitary napkins from cotton knitwear waste, which has been found to be comparable with major brands of sanitary napkins available in Indian markets.  In order to ensure effective transfer of technology to various states, DST-GOI decided to initiate an All India coordinated project and invited few selected organizations to develop the project proposals.  As Biotechnology Division of PSCST has been involved in S&T based empowerment of women at grassroots, DST-GOI urged it to take up this project in Punjab.  Thus, the Council in collaboration with Department of Clothing & Textile, PAU carried out a pilot survey of district Ludhiana – the hub of textile industry and found that cotton knitwear waste is abundantly available here as textile industry generates 10-20% (of the production) of cotton knitwear waste.  Thus, a project has been developed by the Council in collaboration with PAU.  Further, the team from Punjab which would be involved in project implementation viz. scientists of Biotechnology Division of PSCST; Department of Clothing & Textile, PAU; members of four self help groups of Ludhiana and representative of State Department of Cooperatives have obtained hands-on training on the technology.  

3.2       Prevention and management of anemia through nutritional inputs and awareness among young women in India

DST, GOI had initiated an All India coordinated programme for prevention & management of anemia through nutritional inputs. The project involves studying the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls and young married women and standardization & promotion of region specific nutritional interventions for its prevention.  In the meeting of ‘Programme Advisory Committee on S&T for Women’ of DST, GOI, Additional Director (Biotech), PSCST suggested that state of Punjab be also included in this programme.  Thus DST invited AD (BT) to be a part of Programme Formulation Committee as well as get a project developed from an appropriate institute of the state.  Thus a project was got developed from Department of Food & Nutrition of PAU which has been sanctioned by DST. 

Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora, jkarora20@rediffmail.com