TISS Guwahati Students Protest Against Non-Implementation of GoI-PMS

Hundreds of reserved category students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati, wearing badges with ‘Injustice’ written on them, had been on indefinite on hunger strike from January 17 protesting over the withdrawal of a fee waiver. The protest continued till January 30, until the administration finally reached a negotiation with the students.

As a part of their protest, the students were not attending classes and were demanding full fee-waiver under the Government of India – Post Matric Scholarship (GoI-PMS) scheme. Students from the Mumbai campus had also shown solidarity to the protesting students by wearing badges ‘Injustice’ written on them.

This is not the first time that the students are protesting, last year too, the students had protested for fee waiver. As per the students, the administration had assured a fee waiver to 62 students belonging to the reserved category who took admission in the academic year 2018-19. Several students alleged that the administration had given them “verbal assurance” because of which many students took admission.

Speaking with NewsClick, a student activist from TISS Guwahati, Kartik Boudh said, “We started the protest last year in January 2018 and continued till March 17, after which the administration agreed to withdraw tuition fee. But they did not withdraw the hostel fee and the mess charges. Students who are under PMS belong to marginalised community and are unable to even pay Rs. 2000-3000 and the administration expects them to pay 35,000 per semester which is huge for them. So, this time we protested for a complete fee-waiver. Administration said that they can go for complete fee-waiver but with certain conditions.”

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The Government of India – Post Matric Scholarship scheme is a “centrally sponsored scheme and is implemented through State Government and UT administration. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled Caste students at post-matriculation/ post-secondary which will include hostel fee and mess charges”.

As per the students, the administration cited the lack of funds from government as the reason behind their inability to implement the scheme.

Presently, after negotiations and discussions with the administration, an agreement has been made under which the GoI-PMS students can apply for “student aid fund” to receive maximum financial support from the institute. “Also, another option has been given under which the students can now pay in instalments even after they are done with their course. The idea is that students should not go through any kind of academic discrimination and should not face any mental stress,” added Kartik.

Even though the protesting students have agreed to the negotiation but they are not completely satisfied. Tikendra Rai Chelak, President of the GoI-PMS Students’ Association told NewsClick, “We are not very happy with the negotiations but keeping the current situation in mind, there is some respite. However, we are still appealing that the recommendation made by the National Commission for SC/STs to complete waive off the fees should be implemented. Also, this fund cut by UGC (Universal Grants Commission) is detrimental for higher education in the country.”

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