Postgraduate and doctoral students at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) have raised concerns over a prolonged delay in the implementation of a monthly stipend approved by the Odisha government in 2023. MSc students were to receive Rs 10,000 per month, while PhD scholars were to be granted Rs 20,000, but the scheme has yet to be rolled out.
The delay prompted MSc and PhD scholars in Agriculture and Allied Sciences to begin an indefinite hunger strike on December 22, 2025. Three days later, they met with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Chief Secretary Anu Garg, seeking clarity on the stipend’s implementation. After the Chief Minister assured action by January 15, the students suspended their protest.
The scholars highlighted the launch of ‘Krushi Odisha-2026’, a major agricultural event in Bhubaneswar, noting the irony of significant government investment in agricultural development while financial support for university researchers remains pending. They emphasized that the stipend is crucial for supporting research and innovation in the agricultural sector.
A senior OUAT official told The Times of India that the matter is under review by the Odisha government, but no specific timeline for implementation has been provided.
