Research scholars step up agitation

The research scholars at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and other institutes have lined up a number of events throughout the week as part of a prolonged agitation to force Central authorities to agree to their demand on various issues related to fellowship hikes.

On February 21, a candlelight vigil was held in support of hunger strike carried out by a scholar at ISER, Mohali  and against the police action against research scholars outside the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) office. This was followed by a street play to highlight the issue, titled ‘The Great Indian PhD Circus’, on Monday.

On Tuesday, a protest march on the IISc campus against the UGC and the MHRD notification on the dates of implementation of the research hike will be held. The students have demanded the issuance of a new notification.

Human chain

Subsequently, the plans on Wednesday include the formation of a human chain and on Thursday, a postcard and cheque campaign involving each student sending a Re one cheque to the MHRD and Finance Ministry will be conducted.On Friday, a peaceful gathering will be held in front of the main building before the IISc’s ‘Open Day’ on Saturday.

The research scholars have been in perpetual protest for more than a year now over the research hike issue.

Despite good news in October on the hike, the dates of implementation have been a major bone of contention between the authorities and students.