AUISA and AUSG request BoM to increase stipend for students on exceptional aid

The Ashoka University International Students Association (AUISA), Campus Life Ministry (CLM), and the Financial Aid Committee of the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) presented a proposal on 25th March, 2025 to the Board of Management (BoM) for an increase in the stipend from the current Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 for students who receive exceptional financial aid. 

Exceptional financial aid includes a complete fee waiver (tuition and residence) and a monthly stipend for students to cover their expenses. This proposal also includes increasing the time period of the stipend to 12 months from the current 10 months. Apart from this, some logistical requests to make the reimbursement process at the document centre easier are also mentioned in the proposal.

This proposal was presented by Campus Life Minister Urja Hansraj (ASP ‘25), and Aditi Warrier (ASP ‘25), President of AUSG and secretary of the Financial Aid Committee to the Board of Management (BoM) which includes the Vice-Chancellor Somak Raychaudhary, Chairperson Pramath Raj Sinha, Dean of Academic Affairs Bikram Phokoon, The Secretary to Government, Haryana Education department and other faculty members.

Commenting on the meeting, Hansraj said, “There were mostly positive responses [from the board]. They said that this is something that they’re definitely going to look into.”  In a survey circulated by them, CLM asked students currently receiving stipends whether the amount was enough and 60.9% of the respondents said that it was ‘barely sufficient,’ with a student also writing, “I have to starve myself at times.” 

AUISA has been working on this issue for two years with the financial aid office to no avail. President of AUISA, Surya San Win (ASP ‘25), said that because there is a vacancy for the seat of Pro-Vice Chancellor overseeing the financial aid department, the BoM meetings become important, often becoming the only way the students can approach decision makers about any issues.

The stipend of Rs. 3,000 has not changed since 2017-18. The proposal cites inflation of 40% as per government figures, which brings the adjusted price to Rs. 4,200.  “The money has never been sufficient,” said San Win.

Students who receive the stipend get meals worth Rs. 352 per day at the Mess and have their stationery expenses covered up to Rs. 5,000 a year. Apart from these expenses, the stipend covers food costs outside mess, toiletry expenses, and hair care products, expenses which are tough to cover in the INR 3000 given to students. 

In the current freshman batch of 2024-28, 4% of the total student intake is on exceptional aid.

In case the proposal gets rejected, the plan is to “Maybe then directly reach out to the VC and the founders and see if we can have a conversation”, said Hansraj.

The BoM informed Warrier and Hansraj that they will hopefully have an answer by the next meeting, which is to be held in the next two months.

The Edict reached out to the Financial Aid Office for the number of international students on exceptional aid  and their expenses. The Office reverted saying they will reach out to us by next week. We will update the piece after we receive a response from the Office.

(Edited by Fatema Tambawalla and Vishnu Prakash)