Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

About 2 months ago, the University Grants Commission (UGC) gave a free hand to three centres of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). But a newly issued notice again created the continuity of the centres in a barrel of external forces. In a notice issued earlier this month and uploaded on the UGC website last week, the apex body has informed institutes that the schemes under its 12th Plan are to be continued only till the end of September this year.

Referring to an order from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the UGC notice read: “All the ongoing schemes of the UGC under the Plan Head would continue up to 30.09.2017 and expenditure therein would be admitted up to 30.09.2017. Their further continuance beyond 30.09.2017 would depend on the outcome of the review by the UGC.”

This year on March 30, followed by students’ demand, the three centres by TISS-  Centre of Excellence for Human Rights Education, Advance Centre for Women’s Studies and Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies, were funded under the schemes of the UGC’s 12th Plan and were granted extension of a year.

TISS Director S Parasuraman admitted the recent notice has caught the administration unawares. “We had been told by the UGC that the centres would get a year-long extension. However, I received a notice on Tuesday that says the extension is till September,” said Parasuraman. “We were not prepared for this sudden decision. The administration will now consider its options and take an informed decision,” he added.

In March this year, the institute had issued termination letters to as many as 25 teachers, out of which, 24 were reinstated on the basis of their performance and reassurance of the existence of the future of the institutes. Several students were admitted too. Parasuraman said the institute will make sure the admitted students complete their course.

By Rupal