WOMEN IN INDIAN SPACE PROGRAMMES , TECHNOLOGY  AND VISION

  Dr. Barkha Gupta, Scientist/Engineer  
Space applications centre, Ahmedabad  
Indian Space Research Organisation,  
Department of Space.

The programmes of the Indian Space Research Organisation [AMR1] have been primarily application driven and have aided the country in providing tools towards solving problems and meeting the needs of various socio-economic dimensions.  

Many of the national issues like population, health, economy, education, agriculture and food security, energy, infrastructure etc can be provided with viable solutions by science & technology to ensure that the quality of life in India can be compared with that of the developed countries. This objective has been the bottom line of the vision planning for ISRO’s past, present and future programmes.  

Since independence a vast technology infrastructure that spans over several disciplines from agriculture technology to atomic science, from ocean development to space science has been created.

DOS, ISRO as part of science and technology activity of the country has been contributing in the nation’s endeavour since 1963, India has got into the field of space technology.  The Indian space programme was formally organised in 1972 with the setting up of Space Commission and a separate Department of Space (DOS) to promote development and application of space technology, specifically in the areas of telecommunication, television broadcasting, meteorology, resources survey and management.  Development of satellites, launch vehicles and associated ground systems is integral to the space programme objective. ISRO's achievements can be briefly summarised as follows:  

• Operational launch vehicles

• State-of-the-art remote sensing civilian satellite constellation

• Multipurpose communication satellite constellation

• A set of identified space applications using remotely sensed data and 
   satellite communication network  

An introspection indicates that we have been successful in all these areas. Women in ISRO are spread over all the major thrust areas of above programme objectives. The women are contributing equally to the men for the successes of ISRO’s various missions in fulfilling the National needs. The different discipline and nature of work with which women in ISRO involved requires in-depth awareness and understanding of their strengths, rights, capabilities, carrier plans, skills, aptitude, interest  temperament etc.  

The world is governed by continuous innovation which is very much relevant to ISRO, it is very clear that `Technology cannot be driven by technology alone, rather by the development of synergy between technology and human potential’.  

The organisations like ISRO, which are engaged primarily in R & D activities, the most valuable resource is, indeed, only the `Human Resource’ a word which is very much applicable in Science and Technology organisation meaning both men and women power.  But, unlike other resources, human resource is much more dynamic and contextual in its behaviour and characteristics.  Hence, the environment viz., internal and external in which the work environment is embedded should be understood by the women and can be utilised as a tool to bring about the required self understanding and carrier growth accepting challenges for the growth of organisation..  Another important means is the conscious efforts by the women in organisation to facilitate the development of the organisation in fulfilling the goals and visions.  

9.1                      

The DOS, ISRO’s   HRD policies as well as the work culture and carrier growth mechanism are designed to motivate every individual irrespective of the gender. It is also highly oriented to wards the technology development and designed to be competitive in the space arena as ISRO as a whole.  

 In ISRO presently working on projects, which are experimental in nature and pioneering efforts are needed to master the fundamental requirements of space technology.  The organization structure in place is highly flexible and more in tune to meet the demands of these activities, which are largely oriented towards R & D efforts.  Accordingly, the assignments posed to the highly qualified work force are challenging by nature, and thus, it  is attractive and satisfactory for contributing the  best of the technical and non technical minds .  

Other than the field of experimental work, the nature of responsibilities/activities of ISRO have grown in multi-dimensional fashion, which has seen ISRO making forays into the areas of not only research, development and project execution but also mission, ground support, application studies, development and sustenance of user community etc forces the women working to have clear knowledge of the present requirements of the organization.  

NATURE OF WORK REQUIREMENT IN ISRO

ISRO is a place to nurture and develop newer application of space technology on a continuos basis. The nature of the work and the areas of specialization required in ISRO are as below:

• Engineering – all fields including computer science.

• Basic science [Physics, chemistry, mathematics and Geology].

• Applied optics and optical engineering.

• Agriculture [for applications].

• Remote sensing and Image processing.

The work involves the following areas but not limited to:  

Ø      Optical designing, Electronics design ,Mechanical designing including system design and analysis using specific software.

Ø      Hardware realisation for space cameras like camera structure, spacecraft structure, Launch vehicle structures, Propellant Tanks etc.

Ø      Test benches realisations and Test and Evaluation activities including test result analysis.

Ø      Spacecraft, onboard Cameras and Assembly, Integration alignment and optimization associated developmental activities.

Ø      Launch vehicles Integration testing associated activities.

Ø      Instrumentation along with software development for test benches and onboard systems.

Ø      Satellite control algorithm and hardware development.

Ø      Communication system design and realisation.

Ø      Mission control and ground support systems design planning execution and realization.

Ø      Data reception, processing software and hardware realization associated activities.

Ø      Data interpretation and module preparation catering user requirements.

Ø      Managerial [HRD, Finance, Maintenance, Establishment etc], secretarial support activities.

To understand the system for those joined in just hour and to join in future it is essential to have the key points below which I wish to share from my experience and data and strength of women employees at my centre [Space Applications Centre] and ISRO (excluding autonomous bodies).

• The 21^st century job is all about enriching knowledge for a competitive edge and personal growth.  

• Enrichment of knowledge.

• Self-confidence and development of aptitude/ abilities to be talented.

• Urge for learning in the work place.

• Self middle level/ upper level management development including leadership qualities practices such as participation in decision making.

• Most essential thing for women is to understand, plan and execute the multiple role of us as a working  women, wife, mother and daughter.

DATA ON WOMEN EMPLOYEES AT Space Applications Centre, isro

  *+9 JRF ;  TOTAL  300 [ 14 % ].Total strength of women in ISRO /DOS : 2485 (16.6%).

I conclude by wishing more and more women to be motivated by various means of science and technology wings to take up carriers and sectors and join me and ISRO in fulfilling the dream of visionary Shri Vikram Sarabhai.  

I acknowledge for the experience provided by Space Applications Centre, ISRO, DOS and thank being able to share it for the benefit of my nation.