TISS dismisses 55 faculty members, 60 non-teaching staff across campuses due to funding issues: Report

TISS dismisses 55 faculty members, 60 non-teaching staff across campuses due to funding issues: Report

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has reportedly dismissed 55 faculty members and nearly 60 non-teaching staff members across its campuses, citing a lack of funds from the Tata Education Trust, according to The Indian Express.

The decision, affecting half of the teaching staff and all non-teaching personnel at its Guwahati campus, has sparked controversy and concern among the affected employees.

Faculty members, who were on contractual terms, expressed dismay over the abrupt dismissal. According to sources that the paper (The Indian Express)  cited, the reason given for their termination was the non-availability of grants from the Tata Education Trust, which funded their salaries.

An email from the officiating registrar's office stated that efforts to secure grant extensions had been unsuccessful, leading to the immediate cessation of their services effective June 30.

Employees, some with over a decade of service, voiced frustration over the lack of notice and the abrupt nature of their dismissal. "Our annual contracts ended in May, but we were led to believe they would be renewed pending Tata Trust funding," shared a faculty member from TISS Guwahati to the publication (The Indian Express).

TISS administration acknowledged efforts to secure funding continuation from the Tata Education Trust over the past six months but noted the challenges in sustaining operations without timely grants.

The situation has prompted the TISS Teachers Association to convene urgently, highlighting broader concerns about the institute's ability to maintain academic standards and operational continuity in the wake of such mass layoffs.

TISS has indicated plans to explore hourly employment for affected faculty and to prepare for regular appointments to sustain academic programs if funding challenges persist. The institute's management has also raised the possibility of seeking alternative funding sources to mitigate the impact of the funding shortfall.

In response to queries sent by the publication named above (The Indian Express), the Tata Education Trust did not provide immediate comment, directing inquiries to their public relations representatives. The abrupt dismissals have raised questions about the future of affected faculty members and the operational stability of TISS across its campuses.