Paltry Stipends, No Resources, Rampant Exploitation: Why PhD Scholars Suffer
Sanjay | 28 March 2024 | The Wire
Feroz Alam is “compelled” to freelance as a proofreader for a private company to continue his research at University of Delhi (DU). From Bihar’s Champaran district, Alam is enrolled in PhD at DU’s history department. He receives a paltry Rs 8,000 per month as “non-NET fellowship” – a stipend given to research scholars that isn’t through the National Eligibility Test (NET). This has affected his research on labour and migration in Indian history.
“I cannot ask for money from my parents at this age to fund my education. I am forced to do freelance jobs to support myself,” he said. Most of his stipend goes into paying rent as Alam did not get a hostel accommodation. “I am unable to purchase books and journals and I fear this may impact my research work. Food, transport, rental charges and other costs are rising but the government is not increasing the non-NET fellowship amount,” he said….