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The Wire
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Delay in Disbursement of Stipend Under Maulana Azad Fellowship Leaves Minority Students in Distress
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories Delay in Disbursement of Stipend Under Maulana Azad Fellowship Leaves Minority Students in Distress Ankit Raj 20 minutes ago Numerous researchers from minority communities pursuing their PhDs under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship have not received their stipends since December 2024. Union minister of minority affairs Kiren Rijiju. Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now New Delhi: PhD researchers who are beneficiaries of the Maulana Azad National Fellowship are once again experiencing delays in the disbursement of their stipends. The majority of these researchers have not received their stipends from December 2024 up to the present date in May 2025. In fact, some researchers have not received their stipends even prior to this period. The Maulana Azad National Fellowship, administered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, offers financial assistance to researchers belonging to six notified minority communities in India: Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi. However, the delays in disbursement have caused not only financial hardships but also psychological stress for the researchers dependent on this scholarship. A number of students are managing to get by through borrowing funds. Research endeavours have come to a standstill. There are no funds left for purchasing books and conducting fieldwork. Due to the government's silence, the researchers feel that this fellowship is being intentionally halted. Several researchers have reported that ministry officials have advised them to abandon this fellowship and seek alternative schemes. In light of this situation, three Members of Parliament (Zia ur Rahman from Sambhal, Mohammad Javed from Kishanganj, and T. Sumati from Chennai South) have written a letter addressed to the Union minister of minority affairs, Kiren Rijiju, requesting prompt attention to the matter. The initial two years of this five-year scholarship are referred to as JRF (Junior Research Fellowship), during which a monthly stipend of Rs 37,000 is provided. The subsequent three years are designated as SRF (Senior Research Fellowship), offering a monthly amount of Rs 42,000. As of December 2023, a total of 1,466 researchers were benefiting from this fellowship. Among them, 907 were recipients of the JRF, while 559 were recipients of the SRF. The government terminated this fellowship during the 2022-23 period. In the budget for 2025-26, the central government decreased the funding for this fellowship by 4.9%, reducing it from Rs 45.08 crore to Rs 42.84 crore. The plight of researchers The Wire spoke to researchers from various universities across the country. Kalu Tamang, a researcher in the Hindi department at Presidency University in Kolkata, said, 'I have been facing challenges for approximately six months. The financial burden is making it increasingly difficult to conduct my research.' Tamang, a Buddhist student, was awarded this fellowship in 2021. He has urged Rijiju to expedite the release of the fellowship as soon as possible. 'I am currently in the fourth year of my PhD program, and the fellowship stipends have stopped. This financial strain has adversely impacted my mental health. I am struggling to pay my rent and have had to borrow money from friends, continually promising to repay them as soon as possible,' said another PhD researcher at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. This researcher hails from the North East and is a member of the Buddhist community. Razia Khatoon, currently pursuing her PhD in the Department of Physiology at Calcutta University, stated that despite ongoing appeals, there has been no response from the officials. 'Numerous researchers are persistently facing financial difficulties. My health has declined due to the continuous stress,' said Khatoon. Salima Sultan, who is pursuing PhD from Manipur University, has also not received fellowship stipend since December 2024. 'Maulana Azad National Fellowship is the only hope for researchers from minority community,' said Sultan. 'The stipend from the fellowship allows us to meet the expenses of our research. Our academic life is getting badly affected. Fellowship is the right of the students. We demand from the government to run this fellowship smoothly like other fellowships,' she added. Researchers said that there was delay in obtaining stipends earlier too. But, in the past, the reasons for such delays were communicated. This time, no explanation is being provided. As a result of this uncertainty, students are experiencing increased stress. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has not given any clarification regarding the release of pending fellowship amounts. A team of researchers visited the Ministry of Minority Affairs on May 15 to request the disbursement of fellowship amounts. A researcher from Jamia stated that the officials declined to meet them. A research scholar affiliated with Aligarh Muslim University sought information via the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the release date of the fellowship stipend. However, the ministry provided a vague response. In the RTI reply, the ministry has not specified when the scholarship will be awarded. Who is eligible for this fellowship? The Maulana Azad National Fellowship is awarded to PhD researchers belonging to minority communities enrolled in Indian universities. To qualify, it is essential to have successfully completed the National Eligibility Test (NET). This fellowship is granted to researchers whose family's annual income is less than Rs 6 lakh. Maulana Azad National Fellowship comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. As of October 2022, the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) serves as its nodal agency. This organisation manages outstanding payments and administrative issues. Previously, these responsibilities were held by the UGC (University Grants Commission). Researchers contend that the fellowship operated more efficiently under the UGC. 'The good thing about UGC was that it used to offer reasons for delay in disbursing the fellowship, and would share details. But NMDFC has failed to offer any such assistance,' stated a researcher from Jamia Millia Islamia. What do NMDFC and the ministry say? The Wire reached out to Nixon Mathur, the deputy general manager (planning) and Company Secretary of NMDFC, to inquire about the delay in the scholarship disbursement. 'Our responsibility is to allocate the funds. However, we have not yet received the funds from the ministry. The issue is still under review. Once the funds are received, the researchers will be awarded the fellowship,' said Mathur. Mathur further mentioned that the last funding from the ministry was received in October-November 2024. The Wire reached out to Joint Secretary (Education) Ram Singh to inquire about the reasons behind the ministry's delay in releasing funds. Singh, who is employed in the Ministry of Minority Affairs, oversees the pre-matric scholarship, post-matric scholarship schemes, Padho Pradesh, and the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. He has not yet responded. A discontinued scheme: Maulana Azad National Fellowship Maulana Azad National Fellowship was started by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in the year 2009. Its main objective was to encourage minority students to pursue higher education and reduce the financial barriers in their path. But in December 2022, the Government of India discontinued this fellowship. In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Minority Affairs had clearly said, 'Since the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) scheme matches many other fellowship schemes for higher education, the government has decided to discontinue it from 2022-23.' However, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had assured that 'students who are already getting this fellowship will continue to get it for their stipulated period.' NMDFC, the nodal agency of Maulana Azad National Fellowship, had also mentioned this in its notice. Translated from the Hindi original, published on The Wire Hindi, by Naushin Rehman. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. 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Mint
2 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Scary video: Man uses flimsy rope bridge to cross raging river in Arunachal Pradesh; Kiren Rijiju says THIS
As the heavy rains continue to batter Arunachal Pradesh and other north-eastern states, Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has shared a video on social media showing a man trying to cross a flooded river through a hanging bridge In Arunachal's Anjaw district. In a post on social media platform X, Kiren Rijiju said: 'Arunachal Pradesh receives heaviest Monsoon rains in the world. Got this video of a man crossing traditional hanging bridge in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh near tri-junction of India, China & Myanmar border.' 'Please remain careful & safe. Govt will provide necessary support,' added Rijiju. The video, since posted at 11:48 pm on June 1, has garnered more than one million views and several comments. Here are some comments by X users on Kiren Rijiju's post. – 'Necessary support like postings on social media, PR stunts on WhatsApp and expressing grief if any uncalled event occurs. So called patriotism.' – 'Why In the Infrastructure World, the Government has been building Pool, Bridge.' – 'Floods again! NE states of India do not have holistic solutions for its control & mitigation. Rain falls, we control. Two types of control necessary, on-ground control & weather control, both in order keep floods from doing much damage so that rainfall.' – 'One of the many realities of lives in our NorthEast.' – 'What you have done to the Arunachal Pradesh. Still people are using hanging bridge not adequate infrastructure.' The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for Arunachal Pradesh for the coming week, till June 6, predicting "very heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning". The weather department forecasted "heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning" from June 1 to 5 while predicting only "heavy rain" on June 5 and 6. On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh in response to the ongoing heavy rainfall affecting these states. In an X post, Shah assured the states of all possible assistance from the central government to address any challenges arising from the situation. "Spoke with the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast," Shah said.
India Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Arunachal man crosses raging river on rope bridge. Kiren Rijiju shares nail-biting video
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared a video of a man in Arunachal Pradesh crossing a flooded hanging bridge, which has raised alarm over the worsening monsoon situation in the video, posted by Rijiju in a post on X, showed the man making his way across a swaying rope bridge in Arunachal's Anjaw district as gushing water thundered beneath Minister, who belongs to the state, urged residents to exercise caution and assured that the government would provide necessary assistance. "Got this video of a man crossing a traditional hanging bridge in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh, near the tri-junction of India, China, and Myanmar border. Please remain careful & safe," the caption of his post also said that Arunachal Pradesh has received the heaviest monsoon rainfall in the world this a look at his post here:Watch the video Rijiju shared: At least 25 people have been killed across the northeast region following days of relentless monsoon rains. The situation on the ground has been grim. Since May 30, at least nine have died in landslides triggered by relentless rain. The state government has announced Rs 4 lakh as compensation for each victim's people, including two women and two children, were killed when a vehicle carrying members of two families was swept away by a landslide along the Bana-Seppa stretch in East Kameng district, as per a report by PTI. In a separate incident in Lower Subansiri, two labourers died after a cabbage farm near the Ziro-Kamle road collapsed on Minister Pema Khandu expressed condolences and urged people to stay indoors and avoid travelling, especially after dark. He also appealed to citizens to avoid venturing near rivers and streams until the weather Home Minister Mama Natung and Union Minister Rijiju also offered their condolences to the bereaved families.'All departments are on high alert,' the Chief Minister said, adding that the administration would continue to support those affected.(With inputs from PTI)Tune InMust Watch
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Video: Man Tries To Cross Hanging Bridge Amid Floods. Kiren Rijiju Reacts
A video of a man risking his life to cross a heavily flooded river via a damaged suspension bridge has emerged from the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. In the 45-second clip, shared by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on X, the unidentified person is seen clinging to the upper ropes of what looks like a broken bridge. The water flows underneath him with massive intensity. The man tries to cross the river without any protective gear. "Arunachal Pradesh receives heaviest Monsoon rains in the world. Got this video of a man crossing a traditional hanging bridge in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh near the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar border. Please remain careful and safe. Government will provide the necessary support," Rijiju wrote alongside the video. ArunachalPradesh receives heaviest Monsoon rains in the world. Got this video of a man crossing traditional hanging bridge in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh near tri-junction of India, China & Myanmar border. Please remain careful & safe. Govt will provide necessary support. — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 1, 2025 Mr Rijiju, the MP from West Arunachal Pradesh Lok Sabha seat, in a separate post, shared that the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission were being launched by the Indian Air Force in coordination with the central armed forces, NDRF and state government forces across the North East. A critical humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission is being launched by the Indian Air Force, Central Armed Forces, NDRF and State Govt Forces in North East India. — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) June 2, 2025 Arunachal Pradesh has received massive rainfall with the onset of monsoon. At least nine people have died since May 30 in rain-related incidents and landslides in multiple districts of the state. In East Kameng, seven people, including two women and two children, were killed when a vehicle carrying members of two families was swept off the road by a huge landslide. The incident was reported between the Bana-Seppa stretch of National Highway-13, according to IANS. In the second incident, two labourers were killed and two others were rescued after a landslide in a cabbage farm near the Pine Grove area in Lower Subansiri district. The Arunachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the family of those who lost their lives in landslide-related incidents across the state. Expressing his condolences to the families, Mr Khandu assured that all necessary assistance would be provided to the affected people in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and the Governor of Manipur in the wake of heavy rains in the regions. He has assured them of "every possible help to tackle any situation".
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Viral video shows man crossing flooded river on hanging bridge in Arunachal Pradesh
ITANAGAR: A thrilling video has gone viral on social media, showing a man from a remote village in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district risking his life to cross a dangerously flooded river using a traditional hanging bridge. The footage highlights the extreme challenges faced by locals during the monsoon season in one of the most rain-soaked regions in the world. — KirenRijiju (@KirenRijiju) The video, believed to be captured near the tri-junction of the India-China-Myanmar border, shows the man carefully navigating the remnants of a traditional hanging bridge amid raging floodwaters, underscoring the urgent need for improved infrastructure in remote areas. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared the video on platform X (formerly Twitter), urging caution and assuring that the government would provide the necessary support to affected regions. 'Arunachal Pradesh receives heaviest Monsoon rains in the world. Got this video of a man crossing traditional hanging bridge in Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh near tri-junction of India, China & Myanmar border. Please remain careful & safe. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Serbia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo Govt will provide necessary support,' Rijiju wrote. The video has sparked concern among citizens and officials alike, highlighting both the resilience of the local population and the pressing need for safer connectivity in disaster-prone regions. IAF rescues 14 from Arunachal island The IAF conducted a rescue operation on Sunday, saving 14 individuals who were marooned for two days on a small riverine island in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. The group, which included 13 people from Assam's Tinsukia district, became stranded due to the flooding of the Dibang river. The rescued individuals, employed by a private power company in Bomjir village, found themselves isolated when heavy rainfall caused the river, a Brahmaputra tributary, to overflow, blocking their exit route. While 13 workers originated from Sadiya in Tinsukia district, one person was from Arunachal Pradesh. After being stranded since Friday due to continuous rainfall and severe flooding that prevented local rescue teams and NDRF from reaching them, the Tinsukia district administration collaborated with the IAF to execute an aerial rescue operation.
