With the memorandum published by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday stating a hike in the fellowships offered to the Ph.D. scholars, the students remained unhappy with this decision due to the hike implemented was only 24-35 percent while the demand was for 80%, also the decision was to be applicable by April 1, 2018, instead according to the govt, it will be effective from January 1, 2019.
The Ministry of Human Resource and Development and Department of Science and Technology and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research are responsible for offering fellowships in Mumbai to research scholars from institutes, including IIT Bombay, Institute of Chemical Technology, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Mumbai University.
On Wednesday, IIT Bombay Students protested against the memorandum and held a strike for the hike in fellowship stipends in December last year and in mid-January. The students called the memorandum ‘blatant insult’ and in a joint statement stating “This mere increase of Rs 5,000-6,000 is not only inadequate but also unjustified. While the last hike in the fellowship which happened in April 2014 was around 56 percent, this 24 percent hike announcement fails miserably to fulfill the needs of the research scholars.”
“Regular disbursement of fellowship is also a matter of concern. At times, we are not paid for over four months and given a lump sum amount later but sustaining in that period is difficult,” said a student from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
“Indian research scholars get around 450 USD while those outside are paid 1,600-2,000 USD. The difference will lead to brain drain,” said a student.