In a recent session in the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar raised a contentious point during the discussion on the Women's Reservation Bill, alleging that women scientists working at prominent institutions such as ISRO and IIT Kharagpur are facing delays in their stipend and salary disbursements.

During her speech, Ghosh Dastidar stated emphatically, "The women researchers at IIT Kharagpur and women scientists at ISRO are not getting their stipend and salaries. Even after sending Chandrayaan, they are not being paid their salary." This claim immediately drew criticism and was promptly addressed by the Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju.

Kiren Rijiju, not letting the allegations float for long, rebuffed the MP's claims with concrete facts. He emphasized that every statement made in the house is documented and therefore carries significant weight. Thus, misleading the assembly with incorrect information was a grave misstep.

Rijiju countered, "Every word spoken is a part of the parliamentary document. We should not mislead the house. When Kakoli Dastidar made the statement, she made a very serious allegation that was completely misleading. She said ISRO scientists are not getting regular salaries. The ISRO scientists themselves, including some of the scientists who have retired and who are in touch and regularly supporting ISRO, have clearly said that every regular employee, including those who are pensioners, is getting regular on-time salaries and pensions."

He further highlighted that the women scientists at ISRO had particularly noted the significant support extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under his leadership, the organization has flourished, bringing pride and recognition to the country.

It seems that this episode in the Lok Sabha served as a reminder to maintain the sanctity of the information disseminated during such discussions, emphasizing the gravity of making well-researched and verified statements.

Fact-Check Clears ISRO of Salary Discrepancy Accusations

In recent times, there has been a whirlpool of misinformation concerning the alleged non-payment of salaries to ISRO scientists, a narrative that seems to have gained traction following the launch of Chandrayaan-3 on 14th July 2023. A closer look reveals a possible instance of miscommunication and misrepresentation of facts by various media outlets.

Indeed, the rumor mill went into overdrive shortly after the Chandrayaan-3 mission was set in motion, with claims circulating that engineers involved with the project had not received their wages for over a year. This narrative was carried forward by a slew of media houses including The Wire and Dainik Bhaskar, who echoed similar sentiments in their headlines without providing explicit clarification on the identity of these unpaid engineers.

The root of these misleading reports can be traced back to an article released by IANS wire service on 15th July, just a day after the monumental launch. This story was quickly picked up by several media outlets and circulated widely, fostering a growing sense of discontent and outrage. However, the reality seems to diverge significantly from the narrative built up in the media.

Upon deeper inspection, it becomes evident that the real issue at hand pertains to engineers employed at the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in Ranchi who are grappling with delayed salary payments due to the financial woes of the PSU. This situation, although concerning, stands separate from the operations of ISRO, highlighting a critical need for accurate and responsible reporting in the media.

This revelation brings to light the pivotal role of clarity and accuracy in journalism, underscoring the need to differentiate between misinformation and factual reporting. As the situation continues to develop, one can hope for more precise delineations in future news narratives, fostering an informed and discerning readership.