TISS withdraws termination letters after Tata Trust promises funds

NEW DELHI: The Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) has issued a notice, stating that TISS has revoked the termination of over 100 teaching and non-teaching staffs hired for programmes funded by the Tata Education Trust (TET). The decision came after the Tata Education Trust (TET) committed to release funds for paying salaries, ending a funding dispute that had put the jobs of these contract workers at risk.

Following assurances from the TATA Trust, TISS issued an official statement, stating, "Ongoing discussions with the Tata Education Trust have provided assurance that resources will be made available to TISS to resolve this issue. TET has committed to releasing funds for the salaries of TET project, programme faculty and non- teaching staff."

TISS terminates staff due to funding issues

TISS terminated 55 teachers and nearly 60 non-teaching staff members at its four campuses abruptly on June 28. They were notified that the institute failed to obtain grants from the Tata Education Trust for their salaries, despite multiple efforts. These employees were appointed under projects funded by the Tata Education Trust. In contrast, the remaining teachers at TISS campuses are permanent faculty members on the payroll of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

A senior TISS official explained to Times of India, saying, "We have been speaking to the Tata Trust officials for several months. But they have not yet released any salary to pay these staff members. Even the last month's salary of Rs 75 lakh was paid from the TISS reserve fund, which we are not supposed to use for payment of salary."

Student group criticizes TISS management, BJP government

Following the announcement of termination, the Progressive Students' Forum (PSF), a student group at the institute, criticized the BJP government and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the ‘mass termination’. The PSF expressed dismay over the news and described it as a ‘complete failure’ of the TISS administration and ‘apathy’ of the union government. " It is completely a failure of the current leadership of TISS administration in running the institute and apathy of the BJP-led union government,” the students’ forum said in a statement.

TISS assures salary payments

The TISS press release states that the letter dated June 28, which was addressed to all faculty and non-teaching staff involved in the TET programme, has been withdrawn officially and assured the employees that salaries will be disbursed once the institute receives the TET support grant. " The letter numbered Admn/5(1) TET-Faculty & Staff/2024, dated 28th June 2024, addressed to all concerned TET Programme faculty and non-teaching staff, is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect. They are requested to continue their work, and salaries will be released as soon as the TET Support Grant is received by the institute," read the press release.