PhD scholars in India
often face high levels of stress and pressure due to the demands of their
research work and the challenges they face in their personal and professional
lives. This can lead to a higher risk of depression among PhD scholars. The report published by the University of
California, Berkeley on Graduate Student Happiness and Well-Being also found
that almost 50% of doctoral students met the clinical criteria for depression. Nearly 68%
PhD students suffer from some sort of depressive disorder, with
27% of them having moderate to severe depressive disorders, according to a
study. The non-science students’ condition is more severe than that of science
students. While 84% of non-science PhD students
showed some signs of depression the
equivalent figure was 62% for science students.
Some of the reasons why Ph.D.
scholars may face depression include:
Isolation:
PhD scholars often work for long hours in isolation, which can lead to feelings
of loneliness and disconnection from the outside world. 3-7 years they spend
alone to complete their research work that much of loneliness enough for anyone
to suffer from depression.
High expectations:
There is often a high level of pressure on PhD scholars to perform at a high
level, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome.
Lack of support:
PhD scholars may feel unsupported by their supervisors or colleagues, resulting
in disempowerment and helplessness. Supervisors expect students to do
high-quality research work and publish their work in the high impact reputed
journals but they never supports students for lab facilities and other issues
in research work.
Work-life balance:
Many PhD scholars struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance, leading to
exhaustion and burnout. They spend most of their time in the lab and other
research activities so most of the students neglect their health problems and
diet.
Time required for
completion: In India, the average time for PhD takes 5 years and
several times it takes 7-8 years. Compare to other developed countries where
maximum of 3-3.5 yrs. required to completion of PhD.
Uncertainty about future
prospects: PhD scholars may face uncertainty about their future
job prospects, leading to feelings of anxiety and despair. Even after
completion of PhD Indian students are unemployed due to low number of high
qualified jobs. PhD students are not assured that they get job after completion
of their research work.
Financial problems:
Most of the PhD scholars are suffering from financial problems, only few PhD
scholars get fellowships those who qualified in national fellowship exams, most
of the fellowships are only for three year but PhD extended above three years scholars
are gone in financial crisis. Other PhD scholars those who not able to get any
fellowships are depends on their family for financial needs. Financial problems
and dependence on family make them suffer from anxiety and depression.
Recently Indian PhD
students demand hike in fellowship since last hike fellowship revised in 2018
but after that there is no new revision are made by the government. There are
several issues faced by Indian PhD scholars that have led them to demand a
fellowship hike. Some of the main problems are:
Insufficient stipend:
The current fellowship amount provided to PhD scholars in India is considered
inadequate to meet their basic needs, especially in metropolitan cities where
the cost of living is high. Many scholars struggle to make ends meet and are
forced to take up part-time jobs or loans to support themselves. Average
fellowship in India in to lower than (Avg 35000INR) what other developed
countries provide to PhD scholars (Avg 100000INR).
Delayed disbursal:
Often, the fellowship amount is not disbursed on time, leading to financial
difficulties for scholars. This delay also affects their research work and
hampers their progress. Most of the PhD scholars get their fellowships once or
twice a year in between these students borrow money from others for their
monthly requirements.
Lack of research
infrastructure: The infrastructure for research in many
universities and institutes in India is inadequate, leading to delays in
research work and sometimes, incomplete work. Several times students spend
their money outsourcing the research samples in private laboratories for some
highthorughput studies.
Limited opportunities for
research: Many scholars face limited opportunities to carry
out their research work due to inadequate resources or lack of access to
specialized instruments. Most universities and research institutes are in lack
of funds because they unable to maintain the high throughput instruments and
specialized manpower for running these instruments.
These factors have led to
a demand for an increase in fellowship amounts for PhD scholars in India, which
would help them to focus on their research work without worrying about
financial constraints.
In the conclusion, Indian
PhD scholars suffering both financial and mental health. It is important for
PhD scholars to prioritize their mental health and seek support when needed.
Universities and institutions can play a role in providing mental health
resources and support to their students to help mitigate the risk of depression
and other mental health issues. Government authorities should seriously think
about financial problems faced by PhD scholars provide relief to them by
increasing fellowships.