SPPU students demand increase in hourly stipend of Rs 45 in earn and learn scheme

For many students from rural or underprivileged backgrounds, who have little to no financial support from their family, this scheme is one of the few reliable and convenient options for monetary support. However, with increasing costs, fees and overall inflation, the fixed stipend of Rs 45 an hour has left many struggling.

“With Sundays and other public holidays, a student is able to work not more than 20-22 days a month which is okay but the stipend should be increased,” said Abhishek Shinde, a student who was enrolled in the scheme during his undergraduate at Fergusson College and is now enrolled at SPPU for his master’s degree.

“As of now it is difficult to earn more than around Rs 2500. With that we cannot even cover our mess charges which have increased to Rs 3500 a month. The room rent has increased. The overall cost of living has gone up but the stipend has not been increased accordingly,” said Shinde who recently even started taking up gigs with caterers on the weekends to meet his basic expenses.

The director of the SPPU Student Welfare Board which is the body responsible for the implementation of this scheme said that a proposal has been made in the university Senate to increase the stipend from Rs 45 to Rs 60.

“This proposal needs to be passed in the Student Welfare Board meeting first but that has not yet happened,” said the director of SWB, Abhijeet Kulkarni. “The last meeting was in February and the next might be held only at the end of October.”

Sagar Kawre, another student who enrolled in the scheme last year said, “I heard about the proposal to make the stipend Rs 60 but I believe it should be Rs 100 at least as it is happening in some other universities. It is impossible to meet my expenses with the amount I earn with this and I do not get any monetary support from my parents. Often my only option is to then rely on friends.”