The Union Minister of Education recently made headlines with the virtual launch of the Lilavati Award-2020. This noteworthy initiative takes its name from a 12th-century book titled “Lilavati”, written by Indian mathematician, Bhaskara II, in honor of his daughter Lilavati. Therefore, this innovative educational program by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is designed to empower women and bring them into the forefront of education.
About the Lilavati Award-2020
The Lilavati Award has a dual purpose. On one hand, it provides an opportunity for stakeholders, particularly female students from AICTE approved institutions, to propose solutions addressing pervasive societal issues such as gender discrimination, illiteracy, unemployment, and disparities in economic and nutritional opportunities. On the other hand, it seeks to eliminate gender disparity at higher levels in education.
The Themes and Objectives
The central theme of the award is women empowerment. The objective is to raise awareness about various issues that affect women, like sanitation, hygiene, health, nutrition, literacy, employment, technology, credit, marketing, innovation, skill development, natural resources, and rights.
Areas of Focus
The areas covered under this scheme include women’s health, self-defense, sanitation, literacy, entrepreneurship, and legal awareness. These areas are chosen carefully to ensure comprehensive development of women and girls.
Awards and Recognition
In recognition of outstanding work in each sub-category, the top three winners will receive certificates and cash prizes. The first prize winner will receive Rs 1 lakh, the second winner will be awarded Rs 75,000, and the third winner will receive Rs 50,000.
Other Government Initiatives for Girl Child and Women Welfare
The Indian government has initiated various other schemes for the welfare of women and girl child. One of them is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, a saving scheme that encourages parents to build a fund for the future education and marriage expenses of their daughters.
Another initiative is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, a scheme aimed at promoting gender equality and the importance of educating girls. CBSE Udaan is another scheme that addresses the dwindling enrollment rates of girls in engineering colleges across the nation by providing better learning opportunities for them.
The Smart India Hackathon is a national endeavor to provide students – with at least one woman in each team of six – a platform to solve pressing everyday problems. It thereby fosters a culture of product innovation and a problem-solving mindset among the youth.
