The All-India Research Scholar Association (AIRSA) has written to Dr Geet Jotwani, Scientist G & Head of Human Resource Development at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), regarding concerns about the inconsistent allocation of fellowship funds.
Dated July 18, 2024, the letter outlines the association's distress over delays in distributing funds to several scholars despite the timely submission of required documents like the Annual Progress Report (APR) and Utilization Certificate (UC).
According to the letter, these delays have caused significant hardship for research scholars who depend on these funds for their livelihoods, impacting their families as well. Specifically, AIRSA pointed to a case at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, where a PhD scholar experienced a nearly four-month delay in fund disbursement despite persistent follow-ups via email, phone calls, and visits.
The association stressed the importance of consistent and timely fund allocation, noting that irregularities destabilise scholars financially and undermine their ability to focus on research effectively. They called on ICMR to intervene urgently to streamline the process and ensure that fellowship funds are distributed regularly and promptly.
AIRSA concluded by appealing to Dr Geet Jotwani for immediate action, emphasizing that addressing these issues swiftly would greatly relieve the financial burden currently faced by many research scholars.