Mumbai: The Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) has issued a Plan of Action (PoA) for students protesting withdrawal of scholarships for marginalised sections (STs, SCs and OBCs) since February 21. According to the PoA, SC and ST students will be exempt from payment of course fees for current and upcoming batches. For OBC students, aid of up to Rs 12,000 will be provided.
In addition, the students will be allowed to pay hostel (Rs 15,000) and dining hall charges (Rs 5,000) in monthly installments. The PoA will be applicable for both Bachelors’ and Masters’ students for the academic years 2017-20 and 2017-19 respectively.
TISS hasn’t waived off scholarship fees/charges eligible for the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship (GoI – PMS) as it is the government’s decision. However, the institute has helped students from marginalised sections by providing them internal scholarship funds. For non-fellowship holders, TISS will provide “Young Researchers’ Grants” of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 as mentioned in the PoA. The caution deposit for OBC students has been reduced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,500.
Along with this, the PoA has created a Joint Scholarship Committee at its four campuses across the country to support the issues of SC, ST and OBC students. This committee will comprise members from the administration, faculty and students from every category.
Meanwhile, students are of the view that the PoA is unfair towards OBC students. “Even if they have made several exemptions for SC and ST students, OBC students still have to pay around Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 (after using the student aid of Rs 12,000). Being a OBC section student, it isn’t easy to pay such a huge amount even if it is paid in installments,” said a student.
