On the Corridor of Shishir Hostel: An Essay on Struggle for Fellowship Extension! ~Manu S. M.
Since
our research work has been affected and delayed due to the COVID19 pandemic.
Fellowship Extension of 4th Year Ph.D. Students become a matter of great concern. I
have brought this matter to the notice of concerned authorities at various levels. On 27/07/2020:
In the 414th Academic Council Meeting, I demanded to Chairman of Academic Council &
Director & DDG (Edn) for fellowship extension. On 12/04/2021: I requested a fellowship
extension as per provision PG School regulations (15.3.1 & 15.14. in the standing committee
(on scholarship) meeting held under the Chairmanship of Prof. S. K. Jha. However, they did
not agree due to the intervention of the Associate Dean, though he was not a member of the
committee. On 17/04/2021, students' problems/difficulties including fellowship matters were
again brought to the notice of the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs. On 31/08/2021
requested Dean regarding extension of the fellowship of 4th Year Ph.D. Students through
formal PGSSU letters. On 08/09/2021: I met Director, IARI, along with PGSSU Vice-President
and III Year PhD CR and requested for fellowship extension to 4th Year Ph.D. Students. Other
PGSSU members including the president didn't come despite my several time's requests.
On
01/10/2021: In the 415th Academic Council Meeting I again raised this fellowship extension
matter, however not got a positive response. Highly disappointed since didn't get support from
PGSSU members & IARI authorities regarding fellowship extension. However, never lose
hope & enforce the constitutional provisions. In mid-night of 10th October, I
approached BABSA-IARI for the help regarding fellowship extension matter & drafted
following letter and submitted to Director, IARI on 11th October 2021. He said budget
problem. However, he has marked it to PG School for action. “Respected Sir, We are students
of IARI, currently pursuing Ph.D. 4th year and 5th year. We have completed all our course work,
pre-qualifying viva, and qualifying viva. We are currently writing a manuscript for a scientific
paper as a part of our Ph.D. research work. Unfortunately, as we entered the 4th year of Ph.D.,
our fellowship was over and stopped by PGS, IARI by July 2021. Therefore, it is challenging
for us to stay in IARI without any fellowship in this CoVID-19 Pandemic issue. Further, In this
regard, we would humbly bring to your notice that we belong to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled
Tribe category. As per “PG Rules PART I (RULES AND REGULATIONS) under chapter
15 Scholarship/Fellowship of section 15.3.1 states that In the case of SC/ST/PC M.Sc. and
PhD students, the scholarships are extendable up to a period of six months/one year
respectively”. Hence, we humbly and kindly request you to extend our fellowship, and it will
be very helpful for our economic survival and to complete our research work at IARI. Thanking
you”.
Shocking RTI: From 15th October to 31st December 2021 several RTI applications
were filed against IARI to get the information regarding fund allocation & other administrative
actions. We made every key office of IARI busy with RTI questions during this time. Current
PGGSU Stand: Probably PGSSU President met Director IARI on 28th December 2021.
However, he didn't bring any significant news regarding it. Following messages he conveyed
through social media platforms shows it was a lack of leadership and more of volunteership.
"[1/4, 12:01 PM]: Did Not got any call from minister for meeting. [1/4, 12:05
PM]: Requested many times for meeting through various channels. [1/4, 12:05 PM]: When
it will fixed definitely I will inform about it. [1/13, 4:05 PM]: The minister is not in Delhi
therefore we are unable to meet him. When he will available we will meet him. [1/13, 4:05
PM]: I want to ask you people any other way is there for fellowship extension (except that
letter formality). [1/13, 4:07 PM]: Who r willing to do strike? You can respond like👍
[1/13, 4:42 PM]: Strike means- Standing Atleast 4 days infront of Directors office (in this
winter) & preparation to bear all the out comes good or bad due to it. [1/13, 4:42 PM]: I
am not fearing u but telling the facts as it is. [1/13, 4:43 PM]: 18 students till now. How we
can we expect fellowship extension from a democratically elected (unopposed) President who
counts a no. students to call for protest. So, not believing in any other student organizations I
proceed with BABSA.
Shocking news: On 8th January 2022, we have got shocking news from
intelligence that our request for fellowship extension has rejected by Director. On the corridor
of Shishir hostel: On the 8th, 9th & 10th of January midnights had several meetings & taken
a decision to constitute the following committee to fight for the fellowship extension. 1.
Committee on Planning and Strategic Management; 2. Committee on Secrecy and Protocol; 3.
Committee on Organization; 4. Committee on Documentation and Media; 5. Committee on
Legal Affairs. Added Advantage to us on the declaration of Five Assembly States Election by
Election Commission of India on 10th January 2022. On 11/01/2022 BABSA Met Director
asked the reasons beyond the rejection of our request. He allowed only one person inside his
chamber, He send me out of his room quoting omicron, I personally consider it was a COVID19
sponsored untouchability of human beings. Immediately, we have given the following notice
to Director through his PA. “Sub: Intimation for a peaceful protest against discrimination
towards SC/ST/PC students in ICAR-IARI, New Delhi on 11/01/2022. As we have given
request for the extension of fellowship long back, till now we did not get it even though it is
clearly mentioned in the green book (rule book) so we would like to have our say firmly by
peaceful protest until our request is full-filled. Article 19(1)(a): The Right to free speech and
expression transforms into the right to freely express an opinion on the conduct of the
government. Article 19(1)(c): The Right to peaceably assemble allows people to question and
object to acts of the government by demonstrations, agitations, and public meetings, to
launch sustained protest movements. These are the rights of the constitution of India, in
cohesion, enable every citizen to assemble peacefully and protest against action or inaction
of the State.
The video message has recorded in front of Director's Office. Director called 2 people
inside, and we denied it. He called 3 people inside, and we denied it. He called 5 people inside,
and we called him to come out to discuss the matter. He asked for two days' time to relook on
this fellowship matter. Book diplomacy: On the same day, we congratulated the newly joined
DDG (Education) with a book. Brought to his notice regarding fellowship extension matter.
He said it is an internal matter & given instructions to Director necessary to take action.
I sent
the following video message to all BABSA members on 13th January 2022. “Jai Bhim to all,
It is a matter of great injustice from the authorities of IARI, New Delhi towards the students of
IARI especially marginalized sections of the society i.e. scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and
physically challenged students. There is a provision under chapter 15 of the green book or PG
regulation under which a duration clause: 15.3.1 has the provision for extension of fellowship
up to one year for SC/ST/PC Students & 6 months for other students. But upon our earlier
requests, Hon'ble authorities of the Institute have not considered it. They are in the upcoming
days going to remove clause 15.3.1. It is a matter of great injustice to the students of IARI,
especially SC/ST/PC students. It is a time to unite and show our strength and protest against
the discrimination and arbitrary action of the authorities of the institute. Please unite and protest
to save our rights. Thank you; Jai Bhim, Namaskar”.
On the 13th of January 2022, Director
called our chairman of the committee on secrecy and protocol & tried to suppress us not to
protesting. The Chairman of the committee on secrecy and protocol after getting the
information from intelligence cautioned us Director will going to remove the fellowship
extension clause from the green book in the upcoming academic council meeting, which was
scheduled to be held in February 2022. He has changed & included more demands. Our
Committee on Organize and Agitate is fully prepared for the mass struggle. Portraits of
Babasaheb and Buddha were brought to strengthen our protest on 14th January 2022. BABSA
reached Director's office at 11:00 AM with the slogan of Jai Bhim & Jai Bhim. Protest against
the IARI authorities for the delay in sanctioning fellowship extension as per the PG guidelines
& demanded the following. “1. Fellowship extension as per the PG Guidelines; 2. Written reply to continue the same fellowship extension provision for future batches; 3.
Establishment of SC/ST/OBC/PC/Minorities Cell; 4. Proper utilization of SCSP/SCST grants”.
Director agreed to all our demands. I have conveyed on-spot gratitude on behalf of BABSA by
representing a book on Jyothi Rao Phule, a Social reformer & educationalist. At 12:00 PM
Dean conducted a professor's meeting. Requested the eligible students to fellowship extension
for the necessary action.
Demand for 5th Year Ph.D. Students Fellowship Extension & Controversy: On
17th January, Our Chairman of the Committee on Planning and Strategic Management met the
Director along with Members of BABSA, It was a critical situation for them Since Director
enquired about personal identity and research activities, etc. He called their respective
chairman & threatened lightly. However, we firmly demanded a fellowship extension to 5th
Year Ph.D. Students as per the PG Guidelines, since many professors of, didn't forward their
application. Finally, Director instructed professors to forward the same. However, one must
understand that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are
threatened.
Aftermath: On 22nd March 2022 I got information that "the credit of fellowship
extension amount" to IASRI Students. 29th March 2022: 10.00-10.30 AM (Seek appointment
of Director (Not got since he was busy); 10.30-11.00 AM (Seek the appointment of the Dean
& waiting); 11:00:-11.30 AM (Met Dean & Demanded disbursement of fellowship to all
students.); 11:30 AM-12.00 PM (Visited PG School-2 & took all relevant information/file no.
etc to track fellowship payment status); 12:00-1.00 PM (Seek the appointment of Comptroller
& Discussed fellowship matter of all students & its delaying in payment & requested early
payment of fellowship). On 30th March 2022: Following messages of frustration lacking
constitutional morality. 1. Being born in the general category is a curse. If in case we get
fellowship, would be in installments 😀 Oh god; 2. 😂😂; 3. Funds were not there, it was
created for them. They are neglecting other students. They would have told this earlier. Now
pls distribute the amount equally to all students so that they can survive. (I wish to reply to it
with this link); 4. Yes; 5. Baby Sticker; 6. Yes! you are right, 👍👍; 7. Only IARI knows lack
of logic behind such descisions. If funds were not there they could have give some amount to
all; 8. Yes; 9. Nobody can think about u, this is what IARI students follow. If i am in safe zone,
i won't mind ur problem. Don't talk about unity here 😏; 10. Now question comes, how to
believe the system?? Are they really working on this matter? May be we will not get
fellowship... totally unsure. On 31st March 2022: Fellowship credited to students enrolled
under SC & ST & NER in the financial year 2021-22. Some fundamentalist students projected
me as a casteist. My reply to such gratitude-less students. "I am a constitutionalist not a casteist
and I am always endorsing for Annihilation of Caste".
On 2nd April 2022: BABSA has given
the representation to the Hon'ble Director, IARI for early payment of sanctioned fellowship to
remaining 4th & 5th Year Ph.D. Students enrolled under Unreserved, Other Backward Classes
(OBC) & Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Meantime, the BABSA-IARI conveyed our
sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Director & Dean for sanctioning and extending IARI Senior
Fellowship as per the PG Guidelines. On 7th May 2022: With the historic BABSA struggle
and efforts SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Minorities Cell has been established. On 16th May 2022: On
the auspicious Buddha Jayanti I was nominated as President of BABSA-IARI. On 17th May
2022: Fellowship Extension Amount credited to remaining 4th & 5th Year Ph.D. Students
enrolled under Unreserved, Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS) in the financial year 2022-23.
On behalf of BABSA I would like to convey heartfelt thanks to all students of the IARI, New Delhi for supporting the protest call for fellowship extension of 2018-19 batch M.Sc. & PhD students on 14th January 2022. Struggle was highly strategic and constitutional to uphold the IARI Student's rights enshrined in the clause 15.3.1 of the PG rules and regulations (Green Book) of the Institute. I wish to place on record the contributions of the chairman & members of the various BABSA committees in fellowship extension struggle.
~Manu Sundavalu
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