Chennai

According to UGC vice-chairman Prof. H Devaraj, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani is interested in development of women, and so the minister has been giving a lot of importance to women in all sectors, including higher education. 

“The HRD minister has suggested that we should give some kind of concessions for women candidates who are pursuing PhD, like giving them longer duration for PhD, consider maternity leave during PhD and several others. We will discuss what concessions we can provide them in the commission’s meeting to be held on April 12 at New Delhi,” he said.

Pointing out that women had a dual role of taking care of their family as well as profession, the vice-chairman said that the ministry felt that women needed some kind of exemption in the PhD regulations.

Prof. Devaraj said that the commission would discuss several other reforms in its April 12 meeting. 

“We are going to make a lot of reforms suggested by the HRD ministry. They (MHRD) have sent a note to us about reforms in regulations. This follows the meeting I had with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a review of education with officials of Niti Aayog a couple of days ago,” he said. 

The prime minister wants the UGC to make a lot of reforms, make all stakeholders, including students and teachers accountable.

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