PUNE: Research students from various institutes located in the city led a protest march to the Raj Bhavan on Aundh Road demanding an increase in the amount they receive as fellowship Students from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), National Chemical Laboratory, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology participated in the protest and the subsequent march from the IISER gate to the Raj Bhavan gate and back. The students have demanded 50% hike in the fellowship amount as well as timely disbursement of the fellowship.“The protest was organized to highlight the struggle of thousands of PhD research scholars. Similar marches were organized across the country today. Rallies, protest matches, silent marches, slogan raising, dharnas and various other forms of protests were organized. Until now, students from cities had been protesting by themselves but today the protest was held across the country. Students from the IITs, NITs, IISC and many other universities participated in the march,” said a junior research fellow.Apart from seeking a uniform hike in PhD fellowship, students sought regular update of fellowship after inflation adjustment. “The revised fellowship should be effective from April 2018 and all students must receive arrears. All agencies must ensure timely disbursement of PhD fellowship,” added another student.Students were also upset about the lack of action on the part of authorities despite making many assurances over the past five to six months.“The last hike was announced in 2014, when the fellowships were revised to Rs25,000 for junior research fellows and Rs28,000 for senior research fellows. If the hike is calculated as per the increasing inflation rate, the fellowship amount should increase to Rs50,000 and Rs55,000, respectively. This shows how underpaid research scholars are in our country,” stated the organizing committee’s official release.

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