TEZPUR, Jan 29 - The research scholars� fraternity of the Tezpur University has appealed to the competent authority including the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India to increase their fellowship amounts. In a representation submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India and the Tezpur University authority, the research scholars demanding hike of their fellowship availed from different Central government funding agencies like UGC, CSIR, DBT, DST, ICMR and Institutional fellowships mentioned that they are in solidarity with the ongoing nationwide demand for 80% hike in the current fellowship. �With inflation over the last few years, basic needs cannot be met with the current sanctioned amount of the fellowship. The provided contingency amount is not sufficient to cover travel expenditures for fieldwork and attending national and international conferences which are prerequisite for fulfilment of thesis submission as well as academic growth of the research scholars. Moreover, in most cases, the charges for using sophisticated instruments/software/gadgets within or outside the university is incurred by the research scholars with their fellowship amount which leads to further financial stress during the research period,� they said.
