New Delhi, Dec. 17: In a fervent appeal to the Union Minister of Minority Affairs, the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has raised concerns about the substantial disparity in fellowship amounts under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) in comparison to other schemes. The organization is calling for immediate action to rectify this discrepancy.
In a letter addressed to the Minister, Dr. Roshan Mohiddin, National Secretary of SIO, commended the recent efforts of Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, for revising fellowship amounts for various NET and Non-NET based schemes. However, the letter highlighted that MANF has not undergone a similar revision, lagging significantly in terms of financial support for scholars.
Dr. Roshan expressed, “As an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and welfare of students, we have observed a significant disparity in the fellowship amounts provided under MANF compared to other schemes, especially in light of recent revisions. We acknowledge and appreciate the commendable efforts of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, in revising the fellowship amounts for various NET and Non-NET based schemes. The circulars (DST/PCPM/2-06/2022 and F.No.12-212023-U1) dated June 26, 2023, and September 11, 2023, respectively, have outlined a substantial increase in fellowship amounts for research scholars.
“However, it has come to our attention that the Maulana Azad National Fellowship has not undergone a similar revision, leaving it significantly lagging behind in terms of financial support for scholars. In light of the prevailing circumstances, we urgently request your esteemed department to take immediate action to rectify this discrepancy.”
The letter made specific request for ‘the equalization of the MANF fellowship amount in parity with other schemes, aligning it with the revised fellowship amounts for UGC- JRF, CSIR-JRF, DST-WISE, Savitribai Jyoti Rao Phule fellowship for a single girl child, NFSC, and NFOBC’.
It also emphasized the importance of the timely disbursement of MANF scholarships to deserving scholars. “Timely disbursement is crucial to ensure that students can focus on their research without the financial burden caused by delay,” it said.
The letter expressed belief in the Minister’s commitment to student welfare and understanding of the far-reaching impact these adjustments can have on academic and research pursuits.
