SDPI Demands Urgent Release of Maulana Azad National Fellowship Stipends for Minority Students

Mohammad Shafi, National Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of India, urgently demands the immediate release of all pending stipends under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), which have left approximately 1,900 minority scholars in severe financial distress since December 2024. The SDPI strongly condemns the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ inaction, which has forced students from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and Parsi communities to borrow funds or halt critical research, undermining their academic progress and dignity.

The Ministry’s budget for 2023-24 was slashed by 38%, from ₹5,020.50 crore to ₹3,097 crore, raising serious concerns about underfunding for minority welfare schemes, including MANF. As a result, scholars have reported a complete halt in fieldwork, book purchases, and other essential research activities—causing severe delays in thesis submissions and academic milestones. Furthermore, minority scholars under MANF face disproportionate delays compared to other national fellowships such as the National Fellowship for Other Backward Classes and the National Fellowship for Scheduled Castes, which continue with relatively fewer disruptions. Adding to this disparity, several fellowships under other ministries—including Education and Tribal Affairs—have already implemented stipend hikes in accordance with the Department of Science and Technology’s June 2023 order. However, MANF recipients are still awaiting the long-promised revision in stipend amounts from ₹31,000/₹35,000 to ₹37,000/₹42,000 for JRF/SRF, respectively.

The SDPI calls for the immediate disbursement of all pending stipends, implementation of the proposed stipend hike, and revision of HRA rates to ensure parity and dignity for minority scholars. The Ministry must address ongoing bureaucratic inefficiencies, reverse the unjust budget cuts, and establish a transparent grievance redressal mechanism. Finally, the SDPI demands a comprehensive review of the decision to discontinue MANF for new applicants, reaffirming that investment in minority education is essential for inclusive national development. We will not tolerate this continued neglect and demand accountability to restore the faith of scholars in the system.