Frustrated by the continued non-payment of their long-pending Non-NET Fellowship, research scholars of Dhanamanjuri University today launched an indefinite sit-in protest after the university authorities and the government failed to act despite an ultimatum issued by the Dhanamanjuri University Students’ Union (DMUSU) a day earlier.
The student body had earlier warned the university administration to ensure the immediate release of the fellowship, cautioning that it would be compelled to launch an agitation if no concrete action was taken. With no positive response forthcoming, students assembled on the university campus and began the protest, accusing the authorities of pushing research scholars into financial distress through prolonged administrative inaction.
Addressing media persons, DMUSU president Irom Dimocha said the agitation would continue indefinitely until the pending fellowship is released. He alleged that repeated representations and appeals had been ignored, leaving the students with no alternative but to intensify their movement.
Responding to questions from reporters, Dimocha stated that the university had already forwarded the list of eligible Non-NET Fellowship beneficiaries for the 2022, 2024 and 2026 batches to the government. Despite the completion of all necessary formalities, he said, the fellowship remains unpaid, severely affecting scholars who depend on the financial assistance to pursue their research.
Demanding the immediate release of the pending fellowship, the students warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government and the university authorities continued to remain unresponsive.