The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has apparently let go of 55 teaching staff and around 60 non-teaching employees from its various sites, stating insufficient funds from the Tata Education Trust.
The staff who were laid off, including those with more than ten years of service, were all on contract and were informed that the reason for their termination was the lack of funding from the Tata Education Trust, which was responsible for paying their salaries, as per the Indian Express report.
The choice, impacting 50% of the faculty and all support staff at its Guwahati branch, has stirred up debate and worry among the employees affected.
Teachers disheartened on immediate termination
The teachers, who were working on contracts, showed disappointment about the sudden termination. As per sources mentioned in The Indian Express, the explanation provided for their dismissal was the lack of funding from the Tata Education Trust, which supported their salaries.
An email from the acting registrar’s office mentioned that attempts to obtain grant extensions had failed, resulting in the immediate termination of their services starting on June 30.
Employees, including those with more than ten years of experience, expressed their frustration regarding the sudden termination without prior notice. A faculty member from TISS Guwahati shared with The Indian Express that their yearly contracts expired in May, but they were under the impression that they would be extended once Tata Trust funding was secured.
Teaching staff impacted by the lack of grants include 20 from Mumbai, 15 from Hyderabad, 14 from Guwahati, and six from the Tuljapur campuses. The other teaching staff at TISS campuses are full-time faculty members employed under the University Grants Commission (UGC) payroll.
A faculty member addressed the situation
A faculty member from the Mumbai campus, as quoted in The Indian Express report, expressed that all these roles were established within various schools and centres operated by TISS, relying on funding from the Tata Education Trust. He said that many of them have dedicated 10-15 years of service, holding key positions like centre heads and they are uncertain about how the institute intends to continue running the courses following the sudden dismissal of a significant number of employees without a backup plan in place.
The TISS management recognized the attempts made in the last six months to ensure ongoing funding from the Tata Education Trust but highlighted the difficulties in maintaining operations without timely grants.
As per the report, faculty members believe that the recent alterations in UGC regulations, effective since last June, have impacted TISS. These regulations now govern appointments at TISS and similar universities primarily funded by the central government.
The current scenario has led the TISS Teachers Association to call for an urgent meeting, emphasizing larger worries about the institute’s capability to uphold academic excellence and operational consistency following these extensive layoffs.
TISS has mentioned intentions to look into offering hourly employment to impacted faculty members and to make arrangements for permanent appointments to uphold academic programs if financial difficulties continue. The management of the institute has also mentioned considering the option of searching for different funding avenues to lessen the effects of the funding deficit.
Refrainment from sudden comment by TISS
In reply to questions posed by the mentioned publication, The Indian Express, the Tata Education Trust refrained from immediate comment and redirected inquiries to their public relations representatives. The sudden layoffs have sparked concerns about the future of impacted faculty members and the operational continuity of TISS across all its campuses.
In response to the situation, the TISS Teachers Association has swiftly organized a meeting, emphasizing wider worries regarding the institute’s capability to uphold academic excellence and operational stability following the significant staff reductions.
