National Fellowship Scheme Empowers Mantu Dhar to Pursue PhD Despite Financial Hardships
Mantu Dhar from West Bengal has received financial assistance under the National Fellowship Scheme, enabling him to overcome economic difficulties and continue his research work.
The National Fellowship Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is working to empower students from Scheduled Castes in the fields of higher education and research. Through this scheme, 35-year-old researcher Mr. Mantu Dhar, a resident of Paschim Medinipur in West Bengal, is completing his PhD studies.
Before receiving the fellowship assistance, Mantu Dhar faced severe economic challenges. His family relied on the low income of a single member, making it difficult to cover essential academic expenses such as admission fees, books, and research materials. Additionally, a lack of experience with higher education within the family and the long distance to the institution and library made his academic journey even more challenging.
Mantu Dhar began receiving support under the National Fellowship (NFC) scheme in 2022. To date, he has received a total of 2,96,186 rupees in the form of fellowship assistance, House Rent Allowance (HRA), and contingency grants. This financial support has not only reduced the economic burden on his family but has also helped him meet essential research requirements, such as books and study materials.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Mantu Dhar said, “The assistance from NFC has helped me continue my research and get closer to my academic goals.” He is currently continuing his PhD studies with renewed confidence and aims to successfully complete his research work.
