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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Maulana Azad fellowship delay hits 1,400 PhD scholars; stipends stalled since Jan
New Delhi: More than 1,400 PhD scholars relying on the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) face mounting financial distress as stipend payments remain stalled since January 2025, with the researchers raising concerns that the lack of funds has threatened their academic progress and basic sustenance. Introduced in 2009 by the Union ministry of minority affairs, MANF supports PhD candidates from minority communities –– including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, who clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) and come from families earning under ₹6 lakh annually. Scholars receive ₹37,000 monthly as junior research fellows (JRF) for the first two years, rising to ₹42,000 for the subsequent three years as senior research fellows (SRF). As of December 2023, 907 JRFs and 559 SRFs depend on the scheme. Despite government assurances in December 2022 that existing scholars would continue receiving support even as new admissions stopped, disbursements became erratic, the scholars said. The transfer of nodal agency responsibilities from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) in late 2022 introduced significant administrative hurdles. The fellowship's budget was also cut down this year by 4.9% — from ₹45.08 crore to ₹42.84 crores. 'Until 2022, everything was going smoothly,' said Nazia Israr, a MANF scholar at Kashmir University. 'Then, UGC said they would no longer be the nodal agency... After that, our fellowships just stopped.' Scholars describe endless cycles of document verification, Aadhaar linking, and unfulfilled promises. 'We kept going from our universities to banks to ministries. Every time they say, 'approval is pending'. But no one tells us from whom,' she added. The financial impact is severe. 'From January 2025 till now, I haven't received a single rupee,' Nazia said. Her personal life mirrors the crisis: 'My rent is unpaid. My research has been derailed. I just got married. My husband also has responsibilities — how long can he fund my education?' She emphasised the fellowship's deeper meaning: 'This fellowship was not just financial aid. It was hope.' Opposition lawmakers have raised the delay in disbursement of funds with the government. On 27 April, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi received a plea from the scholars demanding immediate payment of dues, implementation of revised House Rent Allowance (HRA) matching UGC norms effective January 2024, and regular monthly disbursements. Other opposition lawmakers including SP's Zia Ur Rehman Barq, DMK's T Sumathy, and the Congress's Mohammad Jawed wrote directly to Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, stating the stress the scholars are facing over the lack of funds. 'The delay has caused severe financial and emotional stress... This is not the first time,' Jawed said in his April 24 letter, referencing similar delays in 2023-24. Sumathy and Barq highlighted the HRA disparity: UGC JRF-SRF scholars received increases (9% to 10%, 18% to 20%, 27% to 30% in January 2024, but MANF rates remain unchanged. Barq stressed the scheme's purpose: 'Timely financial support is crucial to safeguard academic progress and uphold inclusivity.' An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged funds exist but stated disbursement approval is pending. 'The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has the money but we haven't gotten approval to disburse the same. Once we get the approval, we will immediately pay out but there are issues with guideline changes and nodal agency change so it's taking time,' said the official.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Minority scholars at sea over research fellowship funding
New Delhi: The Centre has said that the proposal of disbursing pending fellowships under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) is "under active consideration", a development that has left hundreds of minority research scholars confused and anxious. The ministry of minority affairs recently responded to TOI's query on the matter saying: "At present, the proposal for approval of committed liabilities under this scheme, beyond 2021-22, is under active consideration of the govt." The statement comes amid mounting concerns and contradictions. Scholars have been receiving fellowship amounts post-discontinuation of the scheme in 2022, albeit with long delays, and the Union Budget for 2025-26 has even allocated Rs 42.84 crore to the scheme. "The Maulana Azad National Fellowship Scheme was approved for implementation till 2021-22. Thereafter, the scheme is to be implemented for settlement of committed liabilities w.r.t. (with respect to) existing beneficiaries," the ministry added. MANF, launched in 2009 to support MPhil and PhD students from six notified minority communities, was discontinued in Dec 2022. At the time, govt had cited an overlap with existing fellowships like UGC-JRF and CSIR as the reason but had assured that existing fellows would continue receiving support until the end of their tenures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo The assurance was reiterated by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a parliamentary session and echoed in replies submitted to the Lok Sabha. Yet, the ministry's recent framing of the disbursal as a "proposal under consideration" has made scholars unsure about its continuity. Since Oct 2022, the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has been the nodal agency for disbursing the funds. However, after the scheme's implementation shifted from UGC to NMDFC, fellowships have been marked by long and recurring gaps, students have alleged. According to some scholars, the disbursement had been regular until Feb 2022. What followed were extended gaps — seven to eight months between Feb and Aug 2022; five months between Sept 2022 and Jan 2023; four months from Jan to April 2023; another four months between May and Aug 2023; five months between Oct 2023 and Feb 2024; and currently, a six-month delay from Dec 2024 to May 2025 — according to some scholars. These lapses, students say, have not only caused emotional distress but also forced many to pause or even reconsider their research pursuits. Ironically, in response to a 2023 query about why the fellowship was not being disbursed monthly, the ministry said that "under the MANF scheme, the funds are disbursed to the beneficiaries on a monthly basis." As of May 2025, several MANF scholars have allegedly not received their stipends since Jan, while others have been waiting since Sept or Oct 2024. With no clear communication and the ministry now calling the disbursal itself a "proposal," scholars say they are worried. "Today, I lost my beloved cousin, but I couldn't attend his funeral because I couldn't afford the flight due to the delayed fellowship. It has been 5 to 6 months, and many of us are struggling with severe financial crises," said a Kashmiri Muslim PhD scholar from Jamia Millia Islamia, requesting anonymity. "Some of us have support from our families, but many scholars have no such support, especially those who are married and the sole providers for their families. The second Eid is approaching, yet many of us are helpless, burdened with unfulfilled expectations from our families. Instead of focusing on our research, we are forced to fight daily — making calls and sending unanswered emails to the ministry." The fellowship was designed to offer financial aid to scholars from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them pursue higher education without being burdened by financial hardship. Eligibility required that students belong to a notified minority community, have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET), be enrolled in MPhil or PhD programmes, and have a family income below the threshold (typically Rs 6 lakh annually). Around 1,500–2,000 students are estimated to be beneficiaries. With research stalled and basic living expenses unmanageable, many scholars say they are on the verge of quitting. "Just recently, a fellow scholar was desperate to pay his family member's hospital bills," another scholar said. "I am not saying that the entire responsibility lies with the ministry, but they cannot deny their role in our suffering. If we knew this would be our reality, we wouldn't have left our families from Kerala to Delhi or Kashmir to Aligarh only to feel helpless in our hardest times. " Beyond the delays, another major point of contention has been the house rent allowance (HRA). While UGC has revised the HRA structure for its JRF and SRF fellows effective from Jan 1, 2024, this has not been implemented for MANF fellows, even though the scheme's guidelines state that fellowship rates should be on a par with the UGC, students said. Scholars argue that these discrepancies are not just technical but reveal larger neglect. "We are not just students. We are researchers dedicated to contributing to the academic and scientific progress of our nation. But our morale is breaking down due to this extended period of financial uncertainty," said a fellow from a central university, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The scholars have demanded immediate release of dues, implementation of the revised HRA, and regular monthly disbursements.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Scholarship for researchers from minority background face four-month delay
i As the disbursement of Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) for research scholars from minority communities has faced delay for four months yet again, the students have urged the Union Government to expedite the process of distributing the scholarships to them. The Minority Affairs Ministry, that handles the scholarships, meanwhile, has told the students in an RTI reply that the Ministry is in the process of getting three scholarship schemes approved from the Union Government for implementation from 2022-23 onwards. The Ministry asked the students to 'wait and appreciate the constraints' of the Ministry in disbursement of scholarship, fellowship, and interest subsidies. The scholarship division of the Ministry is implementing this scheme, which faced delays on several occasions in the last few years. The Ministry said in the RTI response that National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has released the pending fellowship amount to respective MANF fellows till December, 2024. 'Further, NMDFC is in the process to receive funds under the MANF scheme from Government for releasing fellowships to existing MANF fellows,' the Ministry said. On the demand to revise the House Rent Allowance rates for MANF scheme, the Ministry said the proposal is under consideration of the Union Government. As per the provisions of MANF Scheme, the HRA is to be revised from time to time. The Ministry added that it is in the process of getting the three scholarship schemes, MANF and Padho Pardesh Schemes for minorities approved for implementation from 2022-23 onwards. 'Please wait and appreciate the constraints of this Ministry in disbursement of scholarship, fellowship and interest subsidies and read the Guidelines,' the Ministry told students. Saurabh Anand, who follows Buddhism, is a fourth year PhD scholar at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala. He told The Hindu that he hasn't received MANF fellowship since January. 'The survival has become extremely difficult. I have borrowed money from many people, but now no one is willing to help. My mother is a mental health patient and needs proper treatment. I also need funds to participate in research workshop as well as in purchasing essential softwares for data analysis. Without financial support, it's difficult to carry forward my research and manage basic living. I sincerely hope the government responds to our situation soon,' he said. A woman scholar from Srinagar, on the condition of anonymity, said because of the delay in receiving fellowship, she is unable to pay room rent. 'I am not in a position to attend conferences. I am facing emotional and psychological strain. Delay has affected my research capability also as I can not concentrate on studies,' she said. Shanif M.K., a scholar from Kozhikkode, said MANF has faced frequent delays in recent years. 'This time, I am struggling to arrange the funds needed for my thesis submission. My fellowship period ended on 23, February 2025. But I have not yet received the stipend for January and February. Now, I am on the verge of submitting my thesis, but I lack the money to cover the submission fee, printing costs, rent, and university fees. As a result, I am stuck in a difficult situation. Additionally, I am actively seeking a job for the next academic year and attending interviews. However, since I haven't submitted my thesis yet, I am unable to benefit from the 'thesis submitted' status, which is affecting my job prospects,' he said.
