PhD scholars hold protest, demand more scholarship

“Despite several attempts to urge the government to ensure that increased scholarship for PhD students is implemented by all funding agencies, nothing has been done,” Krishna Prasad, a PhD student from IISER, said.

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He also said a fellow PhD scholar from IISER, who came walking all the way from Mohali to Delhi, is on an indefinite hunger strike after the government refused to heed the demands.

“Sivaranjan left from Mohali on foot on December 25 and reached Delhi on January 2. He met officials of various departments. Despite assurances no action was taken. He then began a hunger strike on February 18,” Prasad said.

Protesters said a delegation had met HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday. But no decision has been announced by the government as yet.