Mumbai: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has approached the Tata Trusts, urging them to continue with their projects and to seek support for the employees who were earlier funded by the trust.
The institute is also planning to start a host of new executive programmes that will help them raise funds to the tune of Rs 35 crore. While the institute hopes to support the staff members with these courses in the long run, sources said they already secured funds for the next couple of months. As the Dec-end deadline approaches, students seek more clarity on the sustainability plan for the 115 staff members whose future employment at the institute has been shrouded in uncertainty since June this year.
TOI earlier reported that Tata Trusts did not prefer to be part of social projects where they do not have any form of representation. The trust agreed to release Rs 5 crore then, which supported the staff members till Dec end. While the institute was earlier managed by the trust, it now directly comes under the central govt. The 115 staff members, including teaching and non-teaching ones, were issued termination notices in June and were withdrawn later after the trust released the funds.
Sources from the institute now claim they are engaging with Tata Trusts again to extend support to these staff members. The idea is to seek help at least for the next year or so till the sustainability plan becomes effective, said a source. In the meanwhile, market-driven courses such as executive master’s in human resource management, industrial relations, analytics, public policy, sustainable finance, and a master’s in rural management are planned. The idea is to offer programmes that will have the potential to raise funds and put bare minimum pressure on the current infrastructure. The institute plans to generate around Rs 5 crore to 10 crore annually from each of these courses. The affected teachers also may be engaged for the delivery of these courses.
Additionally, TISS is in the process of getting their recruitment rules approved by the central govt and then advertising their vacancies. However, these will be open to all eligible candidates, including the ones who are among these 115 staff members. Among other plans, revision of fees, increase in application fee, research and development fund, and the institute’s earnings from the school of skill education and the international affairs office are also recommended.
Meanwhile, the students’ collective, the Progressive Students’ Forum, has written to the TISS Teachers’ Association seeking clarity on the issue. They claimed they are concerned about losing essential faculty members in the middle of the year. impacting their education.