Role Model and an Inspiration for Women Scientists – Especially for DRDO

“We feel Tessy Thomas serves as a role model and an inspiration for women scientists to achieve their dreams and have their feet planted in both worlds successfully,”

In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Indian Science Congress that Ms Thomas is an example of a “woman making her mark in a traditionally male bastion and decisively breaking the glass ceiling”.

Ms Thomas – the media also love to call her Agniputri, or one born of fire, after the missiles she has helped develop.

An expert in ‘solid propellants’, which fuels Agni missiles, she is based at the Advanced Systems Laboratory in Hyderabad. ????????

But the charismatic scientist says she has never faced any anti-female bias at her workplace ??????

The media loves calling her Missile Woman – and with good reason.- By Pallava Bagla, Science Journalist

‘Agni Putri’ Tessy Thomas breaks glass ceiling – Rajat Pandit, TNN

Women scientists enter IIT council – Akshaya Mukul, TNN | Sep 2, 2014

NEW DELHI: The IITs, predominantly a male club that never had a woman director or scientist in its council, is in for a big change.

HRD ministry has nominated two women scientists Tessy Thomas and Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath to the IIT council, the apex body of 16 IITs.

A senior HRD official said, “The idea behind getting women scientists in the IIT council is to show that science is not the sole preserve of men. Women can be at par with men in carrying out research.”

Some of DRDO women scientists truly inspired by Tessy Thomas and all DRDO witnessing the progress of those women scientists who are following  Tessy Thomas’s footsteps.

Few examples are

Ms J Manjula, Outstanding Scientist/Sc ‘H’ has taken over as Director DARE wef 01 July 2014.

Ms. AVACHAT SS, Scientist ‘G’ ARDE, Pune Expertise in Documention 

Dr. Manisha Sathe, Scientist ‘E’, DRDE – YOUNG SCIENTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2007

Dr. Vineeta Nigam, Scientist ‘E’ DMSRDE

And lot of other in queue

Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of Ms Tessy Thomas nomination by HRD Minister as director in  IIT council, the apex body of 16 IITs.

1. File noting for nomination of Ms Tessy Thomas, Scientist-H, Director, ASL, Hyderabad (DRDO) as  Director in IIT council
2. Whether any request were made from Min. of HRD for nominating/suggesting the name of candidate from DRDO for nominating as Director in IIT council (Y/N)
3. If yes then provide certified copy of letter sent by Min. of HRD to the DRDO.
4. Whether DRDO submitted/proposed the name/recommendation  of Ms Tessy Thomas to Min. of HRD (Y/N)
5. If yes then provide the certified copy of the recommendation letter.
6. Criteria for nomination for women Director in IIT council by HRD and list of names consider for nomination of women Director.
7. Credential submitted by Ms Tessy Thomas or by DRDO for nomination of Director in IIT council.