Latest news with #MANF
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pending payments of Maulana Azad Fellowship cleared, says ministry
The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs on Thursday announced that payments pending for seven months under Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) 'have been released'. The fellowship for research scholars from minority communities was not disbursed since January this year. In December 2022, the scholarship was discontinued by the ministry but existing scholars were to be granted the fellowship till their term concluded. MANF is a five-year fellowship provided by the Centre in the form of financial assistance to six notified minority communities – Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs — to pursue M Phil and PhD. Announcing the release of the pending dues, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju posted on X: 'A small step that means a lot to so many. Under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, we remain committed to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'. Bhagidari se Bhagyoday is not a slogan, it's a mission.' Last week, Rijiju in an interview to The Indian Express had said complaints from scholars of delay in disbursement of funds are being reviewed. Scholars who were awaiting the funds for months welcomed the government's decision. 'It is good that funds have been released. The government should make sure there are no further delays and the funds are released every month,' Aazam Ali, a research scholar, told The Indian Express. Razia Khatoon, another recipient of MANF, said: 'We really hope we don't have to run anymore campaigns and there are no further delays. We should get our scholarship every month.' Khatoon also sought to know if 'the revised House Rent Allowance, already granted to UGC JRF-SRF scholars, be granted to MANF scholars'. It's been a collective demand of the MANF scholars for some time. Congress MP from Bihar Mohammad Jawed had recently written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman 'drawing her attention' to the delay in disbursement of funds. There are around 800 MANF scholars across India.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PhD scholars in Hyderabad face long wait for Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) stipend
HYDERABAD: For seven straight months now, multiple city-based PhD scholars from IIT Hyderabad, University of Hyderabad (UoH), and MANUU have not received their monthly stipends from the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), disbursed by the Union ministry of minority affairs (MoMA). While the Centre had announced the discontinuation of the fellowship from the 2022-23 batch, it assured that existing scholars would continue receiving the amount until the end of their tenures. The MANF provides five-year fellowships as financial assistance to students from six notified minority communities - Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Sikh. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Pending stipends running into lakhs: Students Students have voiced concerns that their pending stipends of over seven months are now running into a few lakhs, leading to financial constraints. A PhD scholar from IIT Hyderabad, who receives Rs 37,000 a monthly, excluding HRA, said the delay has become a trend now as this is the sixth time it is happening in around three to four years. "I have to submit my semester fee of Rs 57,000, which is already higher than many other central universities. Moreover, the annual contingency amount of Rs 20,000 is also pending. I know of several scholars who even left the scholarship as they were married and their families are depended on them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo " Another PhD scholar from MANUU, whose lump sum amount of Rs 2.59 lakh is stalled, said she was forced to borrow over Rs 1 lakh due to the delay. "I have to pay monthly house rent and other miscellaneous expenses for which I had to borrow money. Moreover, I also have to take Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 from my family, and as a PhD scholar, it is embarrassing to ask them. Research fieldwork is also stalled due to the unpaid amount." Hyderabad: For seven straight months now, multiple city-based PhD scholars from IIT Hyderabad, University of Hyderabad (UoH), and MANUU have not received their monthly stipends from the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), disbursed by the Union ministry of minority affairs (MoMA). While the Centre had announced the discontinuation of the fellowship from the 2022-23 batch, it assured that existing scholars would continue receiving the amount until the end of their tenures. The MANF provides five-year fellowships as financial assistance to students from six notified minority communities - Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, and Sikh. Pending stipends running into lakhs: Students Students have voiced concerns that their pending stipends of over seven months are now running into a few lakhs, leading to financial constraints. A PhD scholar from IIT Hyderabad, who receives Rs 37,000 a monthly, excluding HRA, said the delay has become a trend now as this is the sixth time it is happening in around three to four years. "I have to submit my semester fee of Rs 57,000, which is already higher than many other central universities. Moreover, the annual contingency amount of Rs 20,000 is also pending. I know of several scholars who even left the scholarship as they were married and their families are depended on them. " Another PhD scholar from MANUU, whose lump sum amount of Rs 2.59 lakh is stalled, said she was forced to borrow over Rs 1 lakh due to the delay. "I have to pay monthly house rent and other miscellaneous expenses for which I had to borrow money. Moreover, I also have to take Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 from my family, and as a PhD scholar, it is embarrassing to ask them. Research fieldwork is also stalled due to the unpaid amount."
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
JNU students, MANF scholars approach Minority Affairs Ministry, seek ‘release' of pending monthly dues
NEW DELHI Amid 'delays' in the disbursement of Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) funds, several students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) and two MANF research scholars from minority communities submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Monday, demanding the 'immediate release of pending dues'. 'It has come to our attention that most MANF scholars have not received their fellowship amounts since January 2025 and in many cases, since November 2024. Many scholars depend entirely on this fellowship fund to support their expenses, including room rent, food and essential academic needs,' the memorandum stated. 'Vague assurance' JNUSU president Nitish Kumar told The Hindu, 'We [JNUSU members], along with two MANF scholars, met officials and submitted our memorandum. However, we received vague answers and were told that the issue would be looked into.' When reached for comment, the Minority Affairs Ministry did not respond. The memorandum added that 'prolonged delays' have pushed many students into financial hardship, mental distress, and severely impacted their academic work. 'Borrowing money' A Buddhist scholar currently in his fifth year of PhD at JNU said on the condition of anonymity, 'I have not received my funding for eight months now. It is difficult to stay in Delhi, and I cannot go back to my home town in the Northeast at the moment.' The scholar, who is supposed to receive ₹42,000 per month, has been borrowing money to make ends meet. 'The fellowship had been discontinued in 2022. But the government has ensured that no existing scholars will be impacted. We have not received any information regarding the delays,' the scholar added. The memorandum also urged officials to 'uphold the promise of inclusive access to higher education for students from minority communities'.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi writes to PM over delays in scholarships for students from marginalised communities
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the 'deplorable' conditions students from the Dalit, Scheduled Tribe (ST), Economically Backward Class (EBC), Other Backward Class (OBC), and minority sections of the society have to deal with at residential hostels, along with the delays in post-matric scholarship disbursements. In a letter dated June 10, the Congress leader detailed a crisis in scholarships programmes, citing Bihar as an example where the scholarship portal allegedly remained non-functional for three years, resulting in no scholarships being disbursed during the 2021-22 academic year. He noted a sharp decline in beneficiaries, and said, 'The number of Dalit students receiving scholarships fell by nearly half, from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to 69,000 in FY24,' while adding that 'students further complain that the scholarship amounts are insultingly low'. The Lok Sabha leader of opposition cited his visit to the Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, where students reported severe overcrowding, with '6-7 students forced to share' single rooms, coupled with unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, absent mess facilities, and no access to libraries or the internet. Gandhi claimed that these issues were not isolated to Bihar but 'represent a nationwide failure', hindering education for the vast majority of students from marginalised backgrounds. He called for immediate government action, a comprehensive audit of all hostels serving these communities to ensure basic infrastructure, sanitation, food, and academic facilities, backed by adequate funding; and systemic reforms to ensure timely scholarship disbursement, increased amounts, and improved execution in coordination with state governments. 'India cannot progress unless youth from marginalised communities progress,' Gandhi said. HT had reported in February that the Union Budget 2025 slashed funding for several scholarships. Funding for the National Fellowship and Scholarship for ST students was slashed by 99.99% (from ₹240 crore in 2024 RE to ₹0.02 crore in 2025 BE). The Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities saw a 72.4% reduction, and the Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities was cut by 69.9%. The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme faced a 99.8% cut. HT had also reported last week that over 1,400 PhD scholars under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) face severe financial hardships as stipend payments have been stalled since January 2025 due to administrative hurdles following a change in nodal agency from UGC to NMDFC. The MANF scholars had also written to Gandhi asking for help regarding the disbursal of stipend. Separately, the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes (NFSC) selection process for June 2024 is also in troubled waters. After initially releasing a selection list of 865 scholars in March 2025 and issuing award letters, the National Testing Agency published a revised list in April, reducing selections to 805 and removing 487 previously chosen candidates.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Maulana Azad fellowship delay hits 1,400 PhD scholars; stipends stalled since Jan
New Delhi: More than 1,400 PhD scholars relying on the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) face mounting financial distress as stipend payments remain stalled since January 2025, with the researchers raising concerns that the lack of funds has threatened their academic progress and basic sustenance. Introduced in 2009 by the Union ministry of minority affairs, MANF supports PhD candidates from minority communities –– including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, who clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) and come from families earning under ₹6 lakh annually. Scholars receive ₹37,000 monthly as junior research fellows (JRF) for the first two years, rising to ₹42,000 for the subsequent three years as senior research fellows (SRF). As of December 2023, 907 JRFs and 559 SRFs depend on the scheme. Despite government assurances in December 2022 that existing scholars would continue receiving support even as new admissions stopped, disbursements became erratic, the scholars said. The transfer of nodal agency responsibilities from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) in late 2022 introduced significant administrative hurdles. The fellowship's budget was also cut down this year by 4.9% — from ₹45.08 crore to ₹42.84 crores. 'Until 2022, everything was going smoothly,' said Nazia Israr, a MANF scholar at Kashmir University. 'Then, UGC said they would no longer be the nodal agency... After that, our fellowships just stopped.' Scholars describe endless cycles of document verification, Aadhaar linking, and unfulfilled promises. 'We kept going from our universities to banks to ministries. Every time they say, 'approval is pending'. But no one tells us from whom,' she added. The financial impact is severe. 'From January 2025 till now, I haven't received a single rupee,' Nazia said. Her personal life mirrors the crisis: 'My rent is unpaid. My research has been derailed. I just got married. My husband also has responsibilities — how long can he fund my education?' She emphasised the fellowship's deeper meaning: 'This fellowship was not just financial aid. It was hope.' Opposition lawmakers have raised the delay in disbursement of funds with the government. On 27 April, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi received a plea from the scholars demanding immediate payment of dues, implementation of revised House Rent Allowance (HRA) matching UGC norms effective January 2024, and regular monthly disbursements. Other opposition lawmakers including SP's Zia Ur Rehman Barq, DMK's T Sumathy, and the Congress's Mohammad Jawed wrote directly to Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, stating the stress the scholars are facing over the lack of funds. 'The delay has caused severe financial and emotional stress... This is not the first time,' Jawed said in his April 24 letter, referencing similar delays in 2023-24. Sumathy and Barq highlighted the HRA disparity: UGC JRF-SRF scholars received increases (9% to 10%, 18% to 20%, 27% to 30% in January 2024, but MANF rates remain unchanged. Barq stressed the scheme's purpose: 'Timely financial support is crucial to safeguard academic progress and uphold inclusivity.' An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged funds exist but stated disbursement approval is pending. 'The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has the money but we haven't gotten approval to disburse the same. Once we get the approval, we will immediately pay out but there are issues with guideline changes and nodal agency change so it's taking time,' said the official.
