Students have not received money they are entitled to for over three months
Students have not received money they are entitled to for over three months
Hyderabad: More than a 100 research scholars of the the English and Foreign Languages University are in a fix as the five-year University Grants Commission Non-National Eligibility Test fellowship has been cut down to three years from four by the administration without any prior notice.
Students have not received the money they are entitled to for over three months now. Two students had even been given show-cause notices for questioning why the money wasn’t credited.
A non-NET PhD student pursuing research at any Central university is entitled to a stipend of Rs 8,000 every month.
“Earlier, there used to be MPhil along with research. But now, they have done away with it and students get the MPhil extension fellowship. Students who get admitted into any Central university automatically get this fellowship. Till 2010, PhD students received the amount for all five years, but after that, they reduced it to four years,” said a student.
Many students, after their third-year, had registered again for extension, which was approved. Even so, they haven’t been getting their fellowship money.
“‘Extended’ students are also not being considered. However, some students are getting preference. The administration is not responding positively and there is no communication.
When I inquired, I was informed that the administration had submitted three lists to the Vice-Chancellor. The first list was cleared and the other two are still pending,” another student said.
Ali Raza Moosvi, Eflu registrar, agreed that there was a delay due to administrative reasons. “As per the rules, if they have completed five years, they won’t be getting the amount. There was a delay because many students didn’t meet the statutory requirements of the research on time.
Many students did not submit the mini thesis on time either. Some also have fee dues. We even gave them extended time. One lot has already been paid.”
Another 50 research scholars from Osmania University are facing the heat as the state-sponsored UGC (Non-NET) fellowship has not been increased in the past five years. “We are getting Rs 1,200 per month, but the mess fee alone comes to '2,500. How will this suffice,” said a student.
Students from the University of Hyderabad had protested for the release of MPhil extension fellowships. The VC promised that the fellowship amount will be disbursed on November 5.
At the University of Hyderabad, research students had protested for MPhil extension fellowships to be immediately released. On Saturday, the vice chancellor finally promised to disburse MPhil extension fellowship of Rs 5,000 along with contingency by November 5.
“On October 27, the registrar and the finance officer met officials at UGC. Money will be sanctioned after this and full amount of aid will disbursed,” said an official.
“Many central universities, in order to support students, pay research students for all five years to facilitate research. In the University of Hyderabad, fifth-year scholars get Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 8,000.
Initially, even Eflu’s administration was providing this, but now they have stopped it without any prior notice. They have not even given any reason,” said a another student.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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