ABVP Submits Memorandum To ICHR Seeking Resolution Of Issues Related To JRF Fellowship

The ABVP has sought increasing the ICHR JRF Fellowship amount, the tenure of the fellowship, and monthly disbursal of the fellowship amount.

ABVP Memorandum To ICHR On JRF Issues (Representational Image)

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The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has submitted a memorandum to the ICHR Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), seeking resolution of issues related to the JRF (Junior Research Fellow) fellowship. The right wing student outfit has demanded increasing the fellowship amount, timely disbursal of the fellowship amount, and extending the duration of the fellowship with financial assistance to three years. The students’ outfit has also sought the incorporation of HRA (House Rent Allowance) alongside the fellowship. 

Notably, at present, the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) offers a monthly financial assistance of Rs 17,600 as Junior Research Fellowship amount. However, in comparison to the JRF amount of Rs 37,000, under the UGC-JRF, the fellowship amount provided by the ICHR falls significantly short. Moreover, the ICHR’’s JRF financial assistance is only provided for a period of two years only, where the fellowship amount is discussed every six months. In an official press release, ABVP’s national media convenor Ashutosh Singh said that the disparities in the ICHR JRF Fellowship compared to other fellowships is something which 

"Immediate action should be taken to address the challenges faced by research students receiving fellowships from the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). ABVP demands that effective measures should be taken at various levels to ensure quality research opportunities for scholars. ICHR should effectively implement necessary reforms aligned with the current needs of researchers," ABVP National General Secretary, Shri Yagywalkya Shukla, said in the matter. 

In the past few years, research scholars from across the country from various universities and higher education institutes have been demanding to raise the fellowship amount of JRF and SRF fellowship. Strong demands have also been wavering from various corners to increase the non-NET fellowship. Earlier in December 2023, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also raised the demand of increasing the non-NET fellowship in the parliament. Tharoor said that non-NET PhD scholars are receiving a stipend of Rs 8,000 per month, which was last revised in 2006.