Port Blair: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has urged the Administration to substantially increase the monthly stipend provided to inter-island students pursuing higher education, stating that the existing financial assistance has become inadequate amid rising living costs in the islands.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, the student organisation sought an increase in the stipend from the present ₹1500 per month to at least ₹5000, arguing that the current amount is insufficient for students to meet even basic academic and daily living expenses.
ABVP stated that students travelling from remote islands to study in institutions located in Port Blair and other urban centres face mounting financial pressure due to increasing costs of accommodation, food, transportation and educational materials. The organisation noted that the stipend amount has reportedly remained unchanged for several years despite inflation and the steadily rising cost of living in the Union Territory.
The memorandum highlighted the difficulties faced by students enrolled in institutions including Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Andaman College, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) and other higher educational institutions across the islands. According to the student body, many students from economically weaker sections and distant islands are struggling to continue their studies under the current financial support structure.
ABVP further claimed that several students are being compelled to take up part-time work and daily wage labour to support their education and living expenses, often affecting their academic performance, health and overall well-being. The organisation stressed that higher education should remain accessible to students from all parts of the archipelago irrespective of their economic background.
Apart from seeking an immediate hike in the stipend amount, the student organisation also called for the formulation of a long-term revision mechanism under which student stipends could be periodically reviewed in accordance with inflation and changing economic conditions.
The issue has once again drawn attention to the unique educational challenges faced by students in the geographically scattered Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where inter-island travel, limited infrastructure and higher logistical costs continue to impact access to affordable higher education.
