Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a memorandum to the University Grants Commission (UGC), demanding an extension of the deadline for claiming arrears in Post-Doctoral/Doctoral Fellowships. ABVP also demanded the UGC to instruct Universities to simplify the documentation process, ensuring cooperation from staff members and extending hours for grievance redressal services in the universities.
While appreciating UGC’s efforts in disbursing pending fellowship dues and arrears up to December 2023, ABVP highlights the challenges faced by students in meeting the prescribed deadline of February 8, 2024. These challenges include limited time for documentation, restricted UGC portal access, limited inquiry time, cumbersome procedures at universities, and staff shortages leading to document rejections. In response, ABVP demands UGC to extend the arrears claim deadline, keep the Scholarship Fellowship Management Portal open for longer hours each month, and instruct universities to streamline claim procedures for a smoother process.
ABVP’s National General Secretary, Yagywalkya Shukla, stated, “The measures outlined in ABVP’s memorandum to the UGC address current student hardships and ensure the fair and efficient disbursement of pending fellowship dues. ABVP appeals to UGC to extend the deadline for arrears claims in Post-Doctoral and Doctoral Fellowships, providing scholars with the necessary time to claim their fellowships at their convenience and safeguarding the best interests of students nationwide.”