MG University woes: Fellowship not given for past four years

KOTTAYAM: Hundreds of students of MG University have not been getting University fellowships at least for the past four years as well as the University Grants Commission (UGC) Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) since February.

This has put research activities of the students in jeopardy, as many depend on the fellowships to pursue research as well as academic activities.  

The students allege that the University was diverting the funds allotted for research to other activities, making it clear that there was no thrust on academic activities.

The University grants Rs 6,000 as research fellowship while research students are eligible to get Rs 27, 500 for those having (UGC) (JRF) and Rs 30, 800 for those having Senior Research Fellowship.

“I have not received the University fellowship for the past five years, since the funds were diverted for other purposes”, said KM Anwar, a University fellowship holder at the department of Gandhian thought and development studies.

Febin Baby, a (UGC) (JRF) fellowship holder at the department of Gandhian thought and development studies said that they were not getting the fellowship from last February.

“This has affected our research”, Febin told Deccan Chronicle. There are 178 candidates under the University who are getting the (UGC) (JRF) fellowship. MG University Vice Chancellor Dr Babu Sebastian admitted that the (UGC) (JRF) had been discontinued for many months.  

“It is because the UGC has not reimbursed Rs 8 crore that we had given to the students over the past three years.  Regarding the University fellowships, we have finalized the list and the fellowships will be given shortly”, said Dr Babu Sebastian.