Jaipur MBA Student Says Company Denied Stipend After 3 Months Of Internship: ‘Should I Die For 5k?’

A Jaipur-based MBA student has sparked a debate online after claiming that her company refused to pay her internship stipend after nearly three months of work.

Sharing her experience on X (formerly Twitter), the student said she worked full-time throughout the internship but was later told that her payment could be withheld because the company was unhappy with her performance.

Her posts quickly led to discussions around unpaid internships, long working hours and the lack of protection for interns in many workplaces.

Student Shares Internship Struggle

The student, identified as Shruti, said she had been working as an intern at a company for the last three months. According to her, she suddenly received a message from her manager saying the company had decided

to hold back her stipend because they were not satisfied with her performance.

Sharing the incident online, she wrote, “Today my manager texted me saying they’ve decided to put my stipend on hold and might give a partial amount “if I perform better” because they’re not satisfied with my performance.”

Shruti explained that the internship was never described as performance-based when she joined. She said no one had mentioned earlier that the stipend depended on targets or reviews. Since her internship was already close to ending, she was left confused about what exactly the company expected from her in the remaining days.

She Says Stipend Covered Daily Needs

In another post, Shruti revealed that the total stipend for the internship was Rs 15,000 for three months, which came to around Rs 5,000 per month. While the amount may seem small to some people, she said it was important for her basic survival during college.

She wrote, “That 15k wasn’t “extra money” for me. It covered my rent and basic expenses for college. I stayed with my mama-mami (uncle-aunty) for months just to save money and continue this internship. I worked from 10 to 7 almost every single day since February, and this is how it ends.”

The MBA student also opened up about the emotional pressure she had been dealing with during the internship. She admitted that she may not have matched the company’s expectations but questioned why interns are made to work full-time for months if companies are unwilling to pay even a small stipend.

“Maybe I wasn’t perfect. Maybe I didn’t match their expectations. But how do companies hire interns, make them work full-time for months, and then create drama over paying such a small stipend? What hurts the most is constantly comparing myself with other interns who are 25-28 while I’m still figuring things out. Right now I just feel exhausted, helpless, and completely defeated,” she expressed.

Shruti also demanded stronger rules around internships and wrote, “Free internships should be illegal.” She further added, “There should be some law for internships as well.”

Internet Reacts To Her Posts

Her posts quickly led to strong reactions online. Many users said they had either faced similar situations themselves or knew people who had gone through unpaid internships despite working long hours.

Some people supported Shruti and criticised companies for expecting interns to work full-time without proper pay or clear rules. Others, however, advised her to remain calm and speak professionally with the company management.

A user commented, “At least they are not asking money from you to offer you internship! A bad experience is also an experience, you learn the reality of the world and learn the kind of company you avoid in future!”

Another user suggested that the company may simply have had different expectations from her performance. “Might be their expectations is high. It’s happen just talk to them and ask what exactly point is,” the person wrote.

Shruti replied with frustration, “Should I die for 5k?”

Some users encouraged her to save proof of her work and raise the issue formally through email or HR. A person even suggested legal action if the company continued refusing payment. ‘

A user wrote, “Tough bro. As you mentioned they are holding the stipend cause they are not satisfied. I hope you understand they don’t intend to give it to you (I might be wrong). This is highly speculative but if i were in your position. I would hold the companies assets and not go to the office.

Today my manager texted me saying they’ve decided to put my stipend on hold and might give a partial amount “if I perform better” because they’re not satisfied with my performance.

The stipend was NEVER performance-based. Nothing like that was ever mentioned before. And now my… https://t.co/osHgD4Jg49

— Shruti (@Shruti3256911) May 7, 2026

Refuse to answer calls for a day and the next day would put in a proper email saying I require the stipend and some proof of work (tasks you completed). I would also say that I would approach this legally if any more harassment is done and would resume working once I am paid my due.”

Another person advised her to calmly discuss the issue with HR and ask for proper feedback regarding her performance. However, Shruti later claimed that even after speaking to them, the company still refused to release her stipend. “Asked them, still saying no for stipend,” she replied.