Pune News: Two-Year Struggle Of BARTI PhD Scholars Yields Success
Pune News: Two-Year Struggle Of BARTI PhD Scholars Yields Success
Pune, August 26, 2024 – After two years of relentless struggle, PhD research scholars from BARTI (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute) have successfully secured a 100% fellowship from the government. The scholars have been fighting for this right since the government issued a GR (Government Resolution) on October 30, 2023, that placed BARTI, Sarathi, Mahajyoti, and TRTI under a unified policy. However, this policy violated Article 46 of the Indian Constitution, which mandates special care for the development of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The unified policy was seen as unfair to SC and ST students, prompting widespread protest.
The conflict intensified when the government issued another GR on July 25, 2024, reducing the fellowship from 100% to 50%. While students from Sarathi and Mahajyoti accepted the reduced fellowship, BARTI scholars continued their protest, demanding full fellowship.
The struggle involved a 110-day protest in Pune (September 19, 2023, to January 6, 2024), followed by a 60-day protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai (January 24, 2024, to March 23, 2024), and a 200-kilometer long march from Phulewada to Vidhan Bhavan. This march, along with meetings with the Chief Minister and intervention by Dr. Balasaheb Ambedkar, led to the government’s decision to grant a full fellowship to all eligible BARTI scholars.
On August 23, 2024, after a final meeting with the Chief Minister, the government officially announced the restoration of the 100% fellowship for 763 BARTI students. This victory is a significant achievement for the Ambedkarite community, who supported the scholars throughout their protest. The students expressed gratitude to everyone who stood by them, emphasizing the importance of their constitutional rights and the role of research in the country’s development.
