'Vague answers' on MANF funds delay, says JNUSU president after meeting at MoMA

After repeatedly requesting the government for timely disbursement of the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) along with two MANF research scholars have again approached the minister of minority affairs (MoMA) demanding the urgent release of the funds.

The JNUSU and two MANF scholars have submitted a memorandum to the ministry, stating that most of the students did not receive the stipends since January 2025, and in some cases from November 2024, as per the report.

Several research scholars are facing difficulty in paying their room rent, food and other essential academic needs as they are highly dependent on the MANF funds.

Nitish Kumar, president of the JNUSU said: “We [JNUSU members], along with two MANF scholars, met officials and submitted our memorandum. However, we received vague answers and were told that the issue would be looked into.”

The ministry has not issued an official statement or clarified as to when the Centre will disperse the MANF stipends.

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JNUSU, MANF scholars stand together in hardship

The official statement submitted by the JNUSU and MANF scholars, “prolonged delays have pushed many students into financial hardship, mental distress, and severely impacted their academic work,” the report said.

Additionally, the All-India Research Scholars Association (AIRSA) has criticised the ministry for remaining silent while thousands of researchers were still waiting for their fellowship remuneration.

“This ongoing negligence reflects a serious lack of responsibility. If scholars have to fight every time, what’s the point of claiming "infrastructure?” the AIRSA tweeted on its X official account.

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'Many are unable to pay for basic needs', says AIRSA

Furthermore, in the first week of June, 2025, the AIRSA urged the Union Government to release the financial aid designated for the MANF scholars as many had not received their monthly stipend for several months.

One of the scholars at JNU told The Hindu that he did not receive the MANF funding for eight months and was finding it difficult to pay for the basic needs.

The scholar was to get Rs 42,000 stipend per month and has been borrowing money to survive in Delhi, as per the report.

“The fellowship had been discontinued in 2022. But the government has ensured that no existing scholars will be impacted. We have not received any information regarding the delays,” he added.