TISS students propose to boycott payment of fees

Mumbai: Approximately 300 students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) across its campuses – Mumbai, Guwahati, Tuljapur, and Hyderabad – are planning to boycott payment of fees for academic year 2017-18, due on June 8, citing grievances on deadlines and concessions.

On May 26, TISS announced that it will no longer be able to provide scholarships to students belonging to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. “The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the State governments have not reimbursed the expenses borne by the institute despite repeated requests,” a notice from TISS said.

Students wrote to the administration on Monday from a ‘TISS Resists’ email ID saying that many who get the State government scholarships have not received them yet. So, they have asked for an extension of the deadline, despite the institute’s request that at least part of the fees be paid before the term begins. “With multiple states yet to grant scholarships, and due to some states not recognising TISS a deemed, Centrally-funded university, students have no means of availing of the scholarships, thus making it extremely difficult for them to even pay a portion of the fees as instructed,” the letter said.

“At the time of admission, everyone who came from socio-economically weaker backgrounds, was promised that money would not be a hindrance, but now the university and the Centre are unable to ensure this,” said Alokananda Bisoyi, B. A. Social Sciences, TISS Hyderabad.

Anmol Somanchi, M.A. Development Studies, TISS Mumbai, said, “Every student has to now pay a portion of fees upfront. Many students don’t have the freedom to pull out ₹60,000 at the start of the semester. We understand this is part of the government rules, but it is unfair that the institute is throwing the burden onto the students. TISS is organising educational loans, but it is clear that loans cannot substitute financial aid.”

As per enrolment requirements for the academic year, TISS has also made the submission of Aadhaar details mandatory, to be carried out in the first week of June, which students are objecting to.

Registrar C. P. Mohan Kumar and Director S. Parasuraman could not be reached for comment.