On December 21, IIT-Madras research scholars staged a demonstration inside the institute campus demanding a hike in fellowship amount, its timely and regular disbursal from various funding agencies.
They demanded stipend of Rs 45,000 per month for Junior Research Fellows (JRF) from the present Rs 25,000 and Rs 55,000 per month from Rs 28,000 for Senior Research Fellows (SRF).
The protest was as part of a nation-wide agitation announced by research scholars of IITs, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Indian Institute of Science and other central government-run universities.
Scores of research scholars raised slogans and also took out a protest march to the administration block demanding a hike in stipend for research scholars belonging to Non-National Eligibility Test (NET) category who are receiving a “mere” Rs 8,000 per month.
The stipends are issued by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, University Grants Commission, among others.