The Manipur Government has agreed in principle to the need for providing fellowship or stipend support for quality research and constituted a committee to examine the demands of research scholars of Dhanamanjuri University (DMU), amid the ongoing agitation by the scholars over the issue.
In a circular issued today, Joint Secretary (Higher & Technical Education) Elangbam Sonia said the government had taken note of the demands raised by the student community pursuing research studies at DMU.
The government stated that it was “agreeable in principle” to facilitating quality research backed by fellowship or stipend. However, it has not yet announced any specific fellowship amount or confirmed when such financial assistance would begin.
The circular said a committee headed by the Director (University & Higher Education), Manipur, had been constituted through an order issued on September 15, with representatives, including the State Finance Department, to examine the issue comprehensively.
The committee has been tasked with making recommendations within 15 days on the quantum of fellowship, duration, eligibility criteria, norms and other modalities for implementing the proposed support.
The move comes amid the continuing protest by DMU research scholars seeking financial assistance for their research work. The government has appealed to the agitating scholars to suspend their protest in view of the steps initiated and cooperate with the committee to facilitate timely finalisation and submission of its recommendations.
The circular, however, leaves the key financial and implementation details to the committee, meaning that the government’s present decision amounts to an in-principle commitment to examine and facilitate fellowship support rather than an immediate sanction of fellowships.
The government’s next substantive decision is therefore expected after the committee submits its recommendations within the stipulated 15-day period.
