TISS Hyderabad Students Hunger Strike Enters Day 3, One Hospitalised

Hyderabad: Twelve students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad continued their hunger strike on Sunday against the administration's inaction to the students concern over high hostel and mess fee structure which they allege is forcing socio-economically disadvantaged students to contemplate on dropping out of the courses entirely.

As the hunger strike enters third day today, students allege that the administration has not yet addressed the students concern. Meanwhile, one student has been hospitalised owing to deteriorating health.

Protests rocked the campus since July 7 against high hostel fees, and demanding payment of hostel dues in installments for Government of India-Post Matric Scholarship (GoI-PMS) students, transparency in conducting tender process for the new campus, the reinstatement of the Office of Hostel Management to address students grievance as well as concerns about the safety of students.

The Students Action Committee (SAC), a student body formed during campus protests in December 2018 against some of the administration’s decisions, has now demanded the director of TISS, Dr Shalini Bharat to come down to Hyderabad and listen to the students demand.

The protest intensified after TISS Hyderabad service provider CN Reddy stepped down from his position asking his name to be excluded from the issue and said that he will work in tandem with whatever decision the administration takes.

Meanwhile, the SAC allege that the administration is now resorting to coercive means by bringing in police into the matter.

"The administration and the private service provider is seeking the help of senior police officers to talk with the students rather than directly talking to them. DCP Narayan Reddy had a meeting with the SAC on Saturday night which was inconclusive," said a second-year MA student pursuing Women Studies at TISS.

In response to the students' demand, deputy director (acting) U Vindya said the demand for financial aid is being pursued by TISS Mumbai authorities and a reply is expected by July 15.

“TISS has had a long history of providing financial and other forms of aid to students, as its bedrock of values is based on respecting and ensuring the right to education for all. Despite severe funding constraints both from the government and private sources, it has been continuing to do so, albeit in a modest and limited manner,” a statement issued by Vindya read.

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