Press Release August 14, 2015
Research Scholars across Universities in Limbo over Months of Delayed Fellowships
Students belonging to minority, SC/ST communities allege bias say they are neglected.
New Delhi: A number of research scholars from universities across the country are finding it extremely difficult to financially sustain themselves over delayed disbursement of fellowship money.
As per the UGC notification, the fellowship is supposed to be disbursed in the first week of the every month. However, research scholars complain that they rarely get scholarships on time.
"I have not got any money for over five months now," said Abu Saleh, a research scholar at the prestigious Central University of Hyderabad, adding "This is not the first time that there has been delay as every few months this problem arises."
Research scholars who get fellowships from Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice, Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Canara Bank appear to have been hit hard this time as many have not got the money credited to their accounts for almost six months now.
The recipients of Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) and Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) are now suggesting bias, and have mailed to respective ministries several times and are now planning to meet their representatives on Monday, August 17.
The Representation Letter these students have prepared, adds, "Although the efforts put towards their PhD work by the scholars under the above mentioned schemes is same as that of other PhD scholars availing fellowship under different funding agencies (MHRD-Gate and UGC JRF-NET), however, the fellows under the MANF/RGNF have always remained neglected."
Canara Bank officials have told students that they do not have any fund to distribute since the concerned ministries have not released any fund for several months. Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah had earlier assured the students to look into the matter. Her Ministry, in a written reply to one of the scholars, has said that the MoMA has no fund crunch and they have already transferred the money to the UGC.
One main confusion in fellowship distribution is the involvement of several universities: The Money from concerned ministries go to the UGC, the nodal agency for all universities, that transfer it to bank for distribution only after certificates are uploaded regularly by the bank. Sometimes universities required to sign the required documents also delay the whole process.
Sushmita Roy Ghosh, another research scholar from West Bengal expressed her frustration saying that when we call the designated bank branch, they ask us to call the UGC, which in turn ask us to contact the concerned ministries. "We are running in circles for weeks now," she said.
Several worried students noted that due to financial issues, they are not able to concentrate on their research. It should be noted that regular research scholars who get any form of fellowships are not allowed to take up any regular job as they are expected to focus entirely on their research.
For more Details Contact:
Abu Saleh, Hyderabad University: 94 94 24 26 45
Amir R Khan: Sharda University, Noida: 9958103136
Girish Dahiya, DU: 9911991907
Mobile: +91 94 94 24 26 45
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