Pune: BARTI students announce boycott of tomorrow’s PhD fellowship entrance test

The 2022 batch of BARTI has been protesting for the past 110 days demanding fellowships for all eligible applicants, saying that the 200 limit, introduced by the government in October 2023, cannot be applied retrospectively. Students from the four institutes have opposed the intake limit.

On December 29, 2023, taking cognisance of the hunger strike of students, BARTI issued a letter cancelling the examination and asking the government for fellowship funds for the 2022 batch. But when this resulted in protests by students of MahaJyoti and SARTHI, the letter was withdrawn on January 2.

The BARTI Research Student Struggle Action Committee announced at a press conference on Monday that it would boycott the examination.

Student representative and PhD student Pravin Gaikwad said, “The eligible candidates of the 2022 batch of BARTI have shared their concerns with MPs and MLAs from time to time. BARTI has ignored the demand of students for these fellowships. Since September 20, 2023, students have been on a relay hunger strike in front of Queens Garden and we are now on our 110th day of protest.”

“Students from marginalised backgrounds already struggle enough getting to the level where they can enrol for a PhD programme. There are several examinations, entrance tests, degree requirements and non-academic challenges which students overcome. It is important that the government support the ones who reach this level rather than limit it to 200,” Gaikwad added.

CET held on December 24, 2023, was cancelled owing to discrepancies. It was then rescheduled for January 10.