PhD student submits petition to Governor RN Ravi, alleges exploitation by guide

Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi, who in his capacity as a university chancellor was handing out degrees at a convocation ceremony, was handed a petition in the middle of the event.
A PhD student, named A Prakash, submitted the petition to Governor RN Ravi, in which the former accused academic guides of using PhD students for personal chores.
When called to receive his degree, Prakash gave the petition to the Governor. Prakash in the petition claimed that some guides were improperly directing research students and using them for tasks like caring for children and managing household duties.
Talking to the media later, Prakash acknowledged that the convocation was not the appropriate setting for his grievances but insisted the issues were urgent. “There are several problems at our university where researchers are not being guided properly. Many are being used to handle their guides’ personal responsibilities, such as caring for children, washing dishes, and managing bank accounts,” he said.
He also highlighted concerns about mismanagement of government grants intended for research, alleging that research students incur expenses between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh for their guides. Additionally, Prakash accused the university of improperly renting out its grounds on weekends instead of allowing students access to recreational activities.
He also mentioned that some guides allegedly request ATM cards from research scholars and demand food, putting financial strain on students who often struggle to get money from home.