Researchers protest, demand an increment in their fellowship

Over 600 researchers from premier institutions across national capital today staged a day-long protest outside the Department of Science and Technology (DST) demanding an increment in their fellowship.
Ph D students from AIIMS, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University, IIT Delhi and National Institute of Immunology (NII) among others complained about a discouraging research environment in the country and demanded that their stipend should be increased keeping in view the rising inflation.
Protests were recently held in Bangalore and Chandigarh over the same issue.
"We want the government to consider our proposal and increase our stipends and fellowships, after all research is the backbone of any country. Inflation has gone up considerably and our hikes should be 75 per cent more," said Raman Baliyan, a researcher from AIIMS.

"We want an annual increase in fellowship. The last stipend hike was in 2010," said another researcher.
The researchers met the Secretary of the DST and submitted a memorandum.

The Secretary apparently also discussed the issue with Union Health Ministry officials.
In the evening, the researchers called off their protest after getting an assurance from authorities that their demands would be looked into.
The value of the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) Fellowship at present is Rs 16,000 while that of Senior Research Fellowship (SRF)is Rs 18,000.