Bengaluru: It can’t be a coincidence that most of my classmates from the science section are not in India. According to a report from the highest scientific body of the United States, migration of Indian scientists and engineers to the US saw an increase of 85% in the 10 years. For students who are pursuing research, the stipend money in IITs and IISc is Rs 25000, which is a meagre sum for someone who wishes to be at par with his other friends working in the corporate sector.

But now, the government proposes to encourage research scholars from IIT and IISC with an increase in stipend: from Rs 25,000 to Rs 75,000. The Union higher education secretary kewal Kumar Sharma was quoted saying that the scheme of PM Modi wishes to retain meritorious students who are forced to leave the country for financial reasons. “I think this is a great move by the government. We need to stop the brain drain. We need to give researchers proper infrastructure to enable them high standard research in India. We also need to financially support them to not loose them all to corporate sector,” says Sayoni Das, research scholar in Biotechnology.

Though this is restricted to a few students in the best colleges but it is a move that most Phds are welcoming.

“This scheme is for the best in the country. And to develop this country we need to have the best brains here.

Though discriminatory, but fair enough for academically brilliant students,” says Manjary G, a researcher who wishes to pursue her post doctoral.

Nodding in agreement, Chandreyee Saha, Lecturer and a Phd in Chemistry says, “I think this is a good move. We need to up our research sector. We need to focus on education, take care of our good students. I support the clause that doesn’t allow them to work while doing research. It helps them devote hundred percent.