By Shivangi Sharma and Pragya Jain
Ministry of Women and Child Development on National Girl Child Day announced an initiative called Establishment of Chairs in the Universities in the name of eminent administrators, artists, scientists and social reformers on National Girl Child Day, earlier this year. Launched with the assistance of the University Grant Commission, the ministry has announced 10 Chairs in different fields with an aim to carry out research activities to encourage young girls and women. Statement released says that the main objective of the initiative is to inspire women to pursue higher education and to achieve excellence in their area of work.
The Chairs proposed by UGC and approved by the Ministry are as under:
| S. No. | Subject | Proposed name of chair |
| 1. | Administration | Devi Ahilyabai Holkar |
| 2. | Literature | Mahadevi Varma |
| 3. | Freedom Fighter (North East) | Rani Gaidinliu |
| 4. | Medicine & Health | Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi |
| 5. | Performing Art | Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi |
| 6. | Forest/Wildlife Conservation | Amrita Devi (Beniwal) |
| 7. | Mathematics | Lilavati |
| 8. | Science | Kamala Sohonie |
| 9. | Poetry & Mysticism | Lal Ded |
| 10. | Educational Reforms | Hansa Mehta |
(Source: Press Information Bureau)
The proposed Chairs are to be established for a period of 5 years as per guidelines and have financial implication of Rs. 50 lakh per year. The total expenditure for establishment of 10 chairs will be approximately Rs. 5 crore per annum as per the statement.
“Academic functions of the Chairs will be to engage in research and, in turn, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the area of the study, strengthen the role of university/academics in public policy making and to design and execute short-term capacity-building programmes for teachers in higher education focused towards the designated discipline of the Chair. The other academic functions will be to provide a forum for inter-university/ inter- collegiate Post Graduate and Research level dialogues, discussion meetings, seminars/summer & winter schools, publish articles/research papers/reports/books/ monograms and participate in teaching and Ph.D programme of the Department or School in which it is located” it said.
The statement further said that the University will review the progress of the Chair annually and submit a final report on the activities and outcome of the Chair to the UGC after five years. However, the UGC may undertake the exercise of reviewing the Chair for its continuance, at any stage.
