“We are writing to insist that this year’s applicants (for the 2007-08 program) be fully informed of the difficulties they are likely to face. So as partially to compensate for the sacrifices we have made, we also request that the 2006-07 grantees be awarded the dollar value of the full grant, even though many of us will not be able to complete the full period due to the excessively delayed start date,” the researchers pleaded.

Then, they narrated the sequence of events where they narrated their “chronology of experiences”:

• In April 2006, “we received acceptance letters this letter indicated that research clearance from the host country would be required, but gave absolutely no indication that such clearance might be delayed. By the time, we arrived for our initial orientation in Washington DC at the end of June, we had made substantial commitments in our personal and professional lives.”

• In June, the USEFI staff “made brief mention of the possibility that some of us might not receive clearance from the Indian government to pursue our research until a later date.”

• On October 27, “we were informed of a meeting between US Embassy officials and the appropriate Indian official, at which the Indian government had promised to process the 60 pending research clearance applications within one month.”

“Several others were informed that their applications for research approval had been rejected by the Indian government. This means that they will receive no opportunity to do their research, and of course, no funding or compensation for the sacrifices they have already made.”

... contd.