‘No Science Without Money’: IISc Research Scholars Intensify Countrywide Stipend Hike Protest, Write To PM

Scholars at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, have continued their protest for increase in stipend by writing postcards to Prime Minister Modi yesterday (13 December), reports TOI.

One of the postcards states that the PM’s research fellowship scheme caters to only a few students and the majority are left out of it.

IISc Student’s Council’s general secretary Gaurav Solra said, "As per the UGC norms, a JRF( Junior Research Fellowship) scholar gets Rs 25,000 a month and SRF (Senior Research Fellowship) scholar Rs 28,000. Whereas, it should be Rs 50,000 and Rs 56,000, respectively after revision."

There are around 3,900 students, of which 2,500 are PhD students and 1,400 masters and undergraduate students in the university.

The previous hike was in 2014 when the government increased it from Rs 16,000 to Rs 25,000 for JRFs and from Rs 18,000 to 28,000 for SRFs. The students are now demanding an inflation-based revision stipend, revised annually with timely disbursal.

The research scholars from the International Centre For Theoretical Sciences, TIFR, Bengaluru, have petitioned the Atomic Energy Department, HRD Ministry and Principal Scientific Adviser to the government, to seek revision.