Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: The PhD Scholars and Masters students at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar have complained that the institute has been delaying the release of their fellowship for unknown reasons.
The candidates indicated that their financial status was perilous and that they were financially dependent on the institute’s stipend, which they had been denied for the last few months. “We went around the institute knocking on every door. However, nothing has been done so far,” a research scholar said.
The research scholars said every country is putting more focus on research and development (R&D), and the institute should follow the same. “In such circumstances, how can the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative flourish if the academics are denied scholarships to which they are entitled under the rules?” a scholar said, adding that they had been suffering for the past many months due to a lack of stipend.
The Masters students said they are eligible for the monthly allowance under the MHRD’s Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme for full-time GATE-approved students, but the payment is being held up for the last few months. “We rely on the allowance for our monthly expenses and are finding it difficult to pay the semester enrolment fees without the institute’s financial assistance,” another student said.
The NIT Registrar Prof Kaisar Bukhari revealed that the scholars’ fellowships have been delayed since May as the government has reduced their funding. “We have taken up the matter with the government and asked the Ministry of Education for more funds. We are hopeful to receive the funds soon,” he said.
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