29/06/2026
We Will Not Support This Year's Admission Campaign
Last year, we, the students of ICCBS, supported the institute's admission campaign because the administration promised better facilities and improved support for research scholars. Those promises included:
• Increase in PhD scholarship from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 70,000.
• Increase in MPhil scholarship from 20000 to 30,000.
• Better research and hostel facilities and other essential improvements.
More than 13 months have passed, but these promises remain unfulfilled.
Instead, after admitting around 170 new MPhil and PhD students, the administration doubled the occupancy of hostel rooms without increasing the capacity of the building. Rooms designed for one student now accommodate two, while the same geysers, water filters, dispensers, refrigerators, washing machine, kitchen, dining area and other facilities are expected to serve almost twice as many residents. The result has been a noticeable decline in living conditions. When students pay rent every month, there is little transparency regarding how these funds are utilized for hostel and NGH building maintenance and student welfare. If the rent collected is substantial, why should students wait months or years for basic necessities? There should be a transparent mechanism to ensure that hostel generated revenue is used promptly and effectively for the benefits of the residents.
The situation in research laboratories is equally concerning. Many labs become extremely difficult to work in during the summer due to poor air conditioning. Important research instruments such as SEM, XRD, and AFM, along with other laboratory facilities, often remain unavailable or unrepaired for long periods, delaying research and affecting academic progress.
One of the most serious concerns is the functioning of the Academic Coordination Office, so called ACO. Every scholarship renewal cycle has become a source of stress for research scholars. ACO staff have been very generous to offer scholarships to their blood relations even after their degrees completed, but when it comes to other scholars, they act if they're the donors of this scholarship. Many students repeatedly report disrespectful behavior, unnecessary pressure, and an environment where they feel intimidated rather than supported. We have seen students leave the office distressed, and many female scholars are uncomfortable going to the ACO alone because of their experiences during these interactions. Despite repeated concerns raised by students over the years, there appears to be little visible accountability or improvement. Research scholars deserve an administrative office that serves students with professionalism, transparency, and respect.
Current research scholars fulfilled their responsibility by supporting the institute during the previous admission campaign. Unfortunately, the administration has not fulfilled the commitments it made to those same scholars.
For these reasons, we cannot support this year's admission campaign.
Our intention is not to discourage higher education or research. We simply believe that before inviting another batch of research scholars, the administration should first honor its commitments to the students who are already here by improving scholarships (increase to 70,000 for PhD and 30,000 for Mphil as promised) research facilities, hostel conditions, and administrative practices.
Research scholars deserve respect, transparency, accountability, and an environment that supports research, not one that creates unnecessary hardship!
