GNDU research scholars seek hike in fellowship

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 29

Demanding a hike of 80-100 per cent in their fellowship, research scholars of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) staged a protest against the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development here on Tuesday.

Besides a hike in their fellowship under various schemes, they demanded grants of state universities be renewed on the lines of Central universities, special grants for research scholars and new fellowships in research.

A large number of research scholars gathered in front of the university gate and staged the protest.

“The fellowship should be revised automatically after four or five years. Research is the main part of any country’s development,” said Jatinder Veer Singh, a research scholar.

“We want to focus on our research and we should be provided with all kinds of fellowship. These must be increased just like wages of political leaders,” he added.

The protestors said there should not be any compulsion of NET for UGC fellowships, including Maulana Azaad fellowship. Besides, they said grants of state universities should be renewed on the pattern of Central universities under the UGC UPE XII plan.

“It is strange that research funds are decreasing day by day. Most developed countries in the world especially focus on research,” said the protestors.