As the extended grace period for Tata Education Trust (TET) funded projects at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is expected to expire at the end of December, the administration has assured that there is sufficient funds to continue these projects for the next two. month And the sustainability plan for the future will be ready within a few days.
With the extended grace period barely a month away, it comes as a temporary, albeit temporary, relief to students and faculty.
Insisting that there is no reason for students and staff to worry, an official of the institute said, “Considering the addition of funds by TET in June, there are enough funds to continue TET-funded projects for another two months. Also, the Sustainability Committee is working to find ways to sustain these projects in the future. They are also in talks with TET. A concrete plan will be prepared within a few days.” The officer was answering questions related to concerns raised by some students.
Earlier in June, citing lack of funds, TISS had canceled the contracts of over 100 staff members appointed under TET-funded projects. The decision was withdrawn within days after the TET assured of extended funding. While the issue was temporarily resolved with additional funds, the institute said it would allow the administration to continue running projects funded by the TET till the end of December. And a committee of senior professors was formed to find sustainable ways to sustain the subsequent projects.
Recently, a group of students on campus – the Progressive Students’ Forum (PSF) – wrote to the TISS teachers’ union saying that lack of communication about future plans has left students in a state of uncertainty. “Without further clarity from the administration, we face an imminent crisis where essential faculty may be lost, seriously impacting our education,” the Nov. 29 letter said.