RATAN TATA’S ‘RATAN’ HEART! TISS NO MORE UNDER TATA TRUSTS, YET APPROVES RS 5 CR GRANT FOR TEACHERS’ SALARIES

Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons and Chairman of Tata Trusts, has time and again proved that he has a heart of a diamond. He became the saviour for 115 staff members of prestigious Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) this time.

Set up in 1936 by Tata Trusts, the country's largest charitable trust, TISS will no longer be backed by them. Sources claimed, as per TOI report, that Tata Trusts will only be part of social projects, where it will have a say. It will not be a part of the projects where it does not have any form of representation.

Earlier this year, TISS was brought under the purview of the Union education ministry, through a memorandum of association, with only one Tata Trusts' representative in the society but none in its executive council, that will manage the institute.

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The move came after UGC’s regulations for all universities that receive more than 50% grants from Centre. Though the change was brought at that time only, the impact was seen now when contract of 115 staff members, including 55 teaching and 60 non-teaching staff, funded directly by Tata Trusts came to an end.

Though the contract has ended, sources from Tata said that the trust has agreed to pay a balance grant of Rs 5 crore if TISS issues a charity certificate.

"TISS hasn't provided the certificate till date. Despite this, Tata Trusts has agreed to pay the balance of Rs 5 crore, after which there is no commitment from their side. TISS is no longer under the management of Tata Trusts since June 2023. None of their representatives are also on the board. The trust believes that it has to back social projects where it will have a say," said sources as quoted by TOI.

After Tata Trusts committed to release the balance grant for their salaries, on Sunday, TISS administration withdrew the mass termination notices issued to the staff members from across its four campuses, as per TOI report.

On Friday, TISS has to issue termination notices to these teachers even as they were paid salaries from its reserve fund for some time. In 2017, too, mass termination letters were given to teachers and were later withdrawn.

"This may repeat again in six months. We are seeking a long-term solution to the problem," said an affected teacher as quoted by TOI.

"The administration has been calling the contractual faculty members as project staff as the salaries are not funded by UGC grants. But teachers are recruited through a due process, given appointment letters, placed on a scale, and given a provident fund number. These faculty members are also part of the data provided to NAAC and NIRF ranking. The teachers are holding positions of chairs, heading centres, and doing as much work as the full-time staff. A better solution will be to absorb the eligible staff in UGC positions that are lying vacant,” the teacher added.

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Another affected teacher stated that they were in a part of the redesigning the institute's programmes in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and were also part of the admission process till Friday evening. "These teachers make up for about one-fifth of the staff strength and if the uncertainty on their continuity remains, it will affect many programmes, and will eventually affect the students," said the teacher.

An official of TISS said that they are in talks with Tata Trusts for the release of the funds for these staffers. "They have agreed to make the resources available to resolve the issue. Accordingly, notices issued have been withdrawn, and teachers have been asked to resume. The salaries will be given as soon as the trust releases the fund," the official said.

"We shall discuss with Tata Trusts for sustainable plans of the project and these staff members, keeping in mind govt and UGC regulations and the institute's requirements,” the official added as quoted by TOI.

Meanwhile, the affected teachers are planning to meet the vice-chancellor to discuss a long-term solution. They are also planning to write to the Union education minister, chancellor D P Singh, and Tata Trusts.

2024-07-01T17:59:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd