Jodhpur Research Fellows Face Financial Hardship Due to Unpaid Stipends
Eight young research fellows working at the ICAR–Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) in Jodhpur are grappling with severe financial distress as their stipends have remained unpaid since July of last year. These fellows were part of a Department of Science and Technology (DST)-funded project that officially concluded on July 29, 2025, yet their payments are still pending, creating significant hardship for the researchers.
Project Details and Payment Delays
The fellows were appointed as Junior Research Fellows (JRFs) and Senior Research Fellows (SRFs) under a long-term initiative titled ‘Enhancing Food and Water Security in Arid Region through Improved Understanding of Quantity, Quality, and Management of Blue, Green and Grey Water'. This project has been implemented at CAZRI since 2019 and was scheduled for the 2024-25 period. Each fellow was entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs 37,000, along with a house rent allowance, but these funds have not been disbursed as promised.
According to the affected researchers, the institute has allegedly informed them that the DST has not released the necessary funds, despite repeated written follow-ups from the fellows. The pending dues vary significantly among the individuals, with arrears ranging from two to sixteen months per fellow. Individual unpaid amounts span from approximately Rs 80,000 to nearly Rs 7 lakh, culminating in a collective unpaid sum that exceeds Rs 24 lakh.
Impact on Researchers and Institutional Response
The delay in payments has had a devastating impact on the fellows, many of whom come from rural backgrounds. One fellow described the situation as financially crippling, noting that several researchers have had to borrow money at high interest rates to cover basic expenses such as rent and food. This financial strain has led some to quit the project midway, while others have continued working based on repeated assurances from the institute.
In response to the crisis, CAZRI acting director SPS Tanwar has stated that he is personally following the matter. He emphasized that the fellows deserve to be paid for their hard work and assured that they would receive their dues by April, even if CAZRI does not receive the funds from DST. However, this assurance has done little to alleviate the immediate financial struggles faced by the researchers.
Qualifications and Broader Implications
The affected fellows are highly qualified individuals, having been selected on merit with postgraduate degrees and qualifications such as NET or GATE. Notably, one of the fellows secured an All India Rank 13 in GATE 2025, highlighting the caliber of talent involved in the project. Despite their credentials, their efforts have been met with financial neglect.
The fellows have reported that multiple emails sent to the DST since June 2025 have gone unanswered, exacerbating their frustration. They warn that such recurring delays in fellowship payments not only harm individual researchers but also threaten the future of research careers in India, potentially discouraging young talent from pursuing scientific endeavors.
This situation underscores the need for more reliable funding mechanisms and timely disbursements in government-funded research projects to support the next generation of scientists and ensure the sustainability of India's research ecosystem.
