Bengaluru (Aryavarth):More than 1,100 researchers at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, are protesting against a proposal by the institution’s administration to limit the number of years one can be employed at research projects. This proposal, the scientists claim, unjustly puts a cap on the number of projects a researcher can undertake.
The Society of Young Scientists (SYS) argues that the proposal threatens the careers of committed researchers who have dedicated years to advancing science at AIIMS. The SYS highlighted that these scientists have greatly contributed to promoting AIIMS’ global recognition and that hindering their progress with such new rules is detrimental to the scientific pursuits in the country.
In a letter to the AIIMS director, SYS expressed that, “a rule limiting the maximum number of consecutive projects any individual may join at AIIMS-New Delhi… will not be positively received not only by the researchers of this institution”.
The research community is also concerned about the restrictions the new rules will impose on non-research staff, limiting their opportunities for career progression. The researchers, who have been protesting peacefully, have warned that they might intensify their agitation if their demands are not met. In fact, a silent protest march took place on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the administration has put all new research recruitments on hold until the new guidelines come into effect. This move, however, has been met with more disapproval, with an SYS member labeling it as “draconian and anti-research and anti-science”.
SYS, expressing their resentment against the administration’s disregard for research mandates, has demanded the inclusion of one of its representatives in major meetings before any final decisions on rules or policies are made. A meeting between SYS and the AIIMS director is scheduled for today.