In a proactive move, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has written a letter to Chandrakant Patil, the Minister of Higher and Technical Education in Maharashtra, addressing the financial challenges faced by PhD students. The letter emphasizes the inadequate funds allocated to research students in the state compared to other regions, shedding light on the difficulties encountered by PhD candidates in conducting essential scientific research.
Gadkari draws attention to the struggles faced by PhD students associated with institutions like BARTI, SARTHI, and Mahajyoti, stressing their claims of insufficient support from the state government. Despite their dedicated work on research articles and papers, these students allege a lack of aid in the form of scholarships.
The minister advocates for the introduction of State-Sponsored scholarships for PhD students and proposes a relaxation of admission conditions to streamline the process. He argues that this strategic decision is crucial for increasing the number of Ph.D. holders in the state. Urging prompt action, Gadkari emphasizes the need to address the concerns raised by research students, ensuring justice and creating a conducive environment for those pursuing a PhD.
The letter also calls attention to burdensome admission procedures and financial constraints hindering the progress of PhD candidates. In response to Gadkari’s concerns, research students from Mahajyoti, Sarthi, and Barti collectively demand the cancellation of screening examinations and swift disbursement of fellowships to alleviate financial burdens during their research pursuits.
The letter comes in the midst of controversies surrounding the cancellation of the PhD scholarship exam by BARTI, leading to protests. Additionally, the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training, and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) is facing protests over alleged irregularities in a recent exam, raising questions about the reuse of a 2019 question paper.
As the controversy escalates, candidates are demanding the cancellation of exams and swift scholarship disbursement, with BARTI’s decision to cancel its exam adding momentum to the students’ plea for fair and transparent examination processes.
