In a decision that might affect thousands of students, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) would not wave off hostel expenses of SC students from outside Maharashtra from the academic year 2018-19. As per the institute’s recent admission notification, SC students who would be admitted to the institute would have to bear their hostel and dining expenses as the institute would no longer continue to bear the same. While the initial announcement regarding this was made in May this year, the institute would start implementing the policy from the upcoming academic year.
Students said that the institute’s stand of cutting down on fellowships and fee waivers is a discriminatory move. “the institute has asked students to pay money first even as they might be awaiting their scholarships from the government. Several students who come from the SC/ST/OBC backgrounds cannot afford to pay the fee amount. This decision would make TISS an elite institution yet again” said a research scholar from the institute.
Dr S Parasuraman, Director, TISS said that the institute is facing a severe fund deficit as a result of which it cannot continue with the assistance. “The institute has a deficit of over 20 crores as the government is yet to reimburse the scholarship amount of students. The institute can thus no longer support hostel and dining expenses. Students would however be supported in all ways to avail loans or partial waiver if need be” said Parasuraman.
In 2016-17, the institute had stopped giving non NET fellowships to researchers in the absence of funds. In May 2017, the institute declared that it will not be able to provide financial aid to students from SC/ST/OBC category(with family income below GoI norms). “There seems to be a systematic attempt to stop students from the marginalised backgrounds to take higher institutions in premiere institutes like TISS. Even if the institute lacks funds, it cannot put the financial burden on students” said another student.
