With the administration not relenting to the demands of the students of Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) Hyderabad, the latter have continued protesting and boycotting classes for the fifth day on Friday. On Thursday, the students and the Deputy Director of TISS had a discussion regarding the administration's decision to remove a Bachelor of Arts (BA) course and to make the campus non-residential from the next academic year. However, as the talks failed, the students vowed to intensify their protest.
The students demanded that the main administration from Mumbai should intervene in the issue and pay heed to the concerns of the students. Krishnanath, a student, said, “We submitted a charter of demand, asking the administration to reintroduce the BA programme and make the hostel residential."
He said that there was no clarity from the administration regarding providing accommodation. "We are clueless on what sort of accommodation the administration provides. Even the parents are worried about it," he added.
Speaking to TNM, Deputy Director of TISS, Shiva Raju said that they would get a clarity on the accommodation within two months after having deliberations with the authorities. “We are trying to convince the students to withdraw their protest. We have only deferred the BA course; we have done this in the past and reintroduced them,” the Deputy Director said.
The administration made the announcement to make the campus non-residential since it doesn't have a facility of its own. Despite the administration stating the reasons for which they had to take the decision, the students remain unconvinced and want them to revoke their decision, as it affects students coming from marginalised communities.
“The BA social science programme is one of the best liberal arts course offered by TISS. We want them to reintroduce it. All students have been boycotting classes for this cause. The administration has to acknowledge the concerns we raise,” Krishnanath said.
The struggle of the students received support from students’ organisations in JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Hyderabad.