Hyderabad: 6 more join TISS hunger strike over fee structure

Hyderabad: Six students on Saturday joined the mass hunger strike led by two students at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad against the change in its fee payment structure which has come as a financial burden for the students dependent on scholarships.

TISS on July 8 denied hostel accommodation to students, including students availing the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship, without upfront payment of the whole semester’s fee of Rs 54,650. Subsequently, students called for a demonstration.

Students demand that TISS should reinstate the provision that allows paying Rs 15,000 for hostel accommodation in three installments, as mentioned in the admission guidelines.

Students added that the hostel is in poor condition. “The hostel is in such poor condition that on July 10, 20 students suffered food poisoning of whom four had to be admitted to the hospital.” Even meetings with the administration have yielded no results.

“Since the administration refuses to take accountability and address the students’ concern, the campus continues to be on lockdown,” students said.