CPI MP demands restoration of non-NET research scholarships

Terming as "serious" the stopping of non-NET research scholarships, a CPI member today demanded in Rajya Sabha that the government should restore them to ensure equality in education for poor students.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, D Raja (CPI) said after the students and teachers protested the stoppage of scholarships, the police beat them up and committed atrocities on them.
The issue found support even from Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, besides CPI(M)'s T K Rangarajan and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav.
"The students are teachers are all carrying out a united struggle since October 21. This is very serious that non-NET scholarships have been stopped. It is a regressive step, which is based on a UGC committee report. This is a very serious issue.

"Students and teachers are agitating. They were beaten up. This is atrocious. You attack students who are asking for justice," Raja said, adding that those committing atrocities on the students should be held responsible and government should restore the scholarships, increase them and expand them for non-NET category.
He said government should not do injustice by doing discrimination towards the poor students and added that with the WTO negotiations on, higher education is treated as a tradeable commodity. He wondered, "What will happen to our quality education and education for all. Government should address the concerns of students."

Associating with the issue, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, "I am associating with it. With regard to original research, we are behind even developing nations. Therefore, what is the justification in curtailing the grant for research work. I think government should examine and give a reaction to this."

T K Rangarajan (CPI-M) said, "There should be a judical inquiry into the police atrocities on the agitating students".
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) also supported the issue and said, "the issue is serious. Government should clarify the misgivings and should lok into it".