JNU asks UGC to release overdue grant for students

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) wrote to the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday requesting it to release the overdue amount of Rs 11 crore in order to pay the pending grants of the varsity students.

Several JNU students have not been receiving their non-Net fellowships for the last few months. Affected students from the economically weaker sections have asked the university if they have received funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Vice Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar held several meetings with UGC officials.”The goal is to resolve the current financial problem of the University at the earliest since the current situation has severely affected a large number of students, and also has adversely affected the normal functioning of the university,” said JNU Registrar Pramod Kumar in a statement.

“It is expected that the UGC takes up this issue on a priority basis, and considers releasing the outstanding amount immediately to alleviate the heightened financial hardship of the students,” he said.

In the meanwhile, inter-hostel administration of the Varsity has allowed the non-Net fellowship holders, particularly those facing the financial problem, to continue to have their mess facilities for the time.