Bengal scholars protest irregular fellowship, fund shortage

Demanding regular fellowship for all scholars and adequate state funding for research, over 100 research scholars from West Bengal staged a peaceful protest here on Tuesday.

"We demand rightful fellowship for all scholars and regular monthly disbursement of the fellowships. We also want parity and a non-discriminatory approach in allotting fellowships so that scholars of same seniority get the same amount," Arghya Das, convenor of the Democratic Research Scholars' Organisation (DRSO) told IANS.

Das said that at least 100 students from 12 Bengal-based research institutes participated in the protest staged in front of the eastern regional office of the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Salt Lake.

Das also said that the lack of a productive research environment in Bengal has forced the future scientists to knock the doors of the state government.

To voice their demands, a three-member delegation submitted a deputation to the under-secretary of the UGC, eastern regional office.

"They have accepted our deputation and will forward it to the UGC office in New Delhi. We will also submit the same to state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee," Das said.

"Fund crunch is affecting quality of work and many are forced to shift to other streams. In addition, the scholars also want ample scope to further their research activities and apply it," he added.

"After obtaining doctorates, many don't get employment opportunities in the state. Therefore, the state government should create a proper mechanism so that the talented human resource does not go to waste. They should be able to continue with their work," he said.