TISS students chafe at increased surveillance
Ankita Bhatkande
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Students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences have raised concerns over the increasing number of restrictions and security on the campus after the institute decided to bring in a biometric system for marking attendance from the next semester.In a letter sent to the institute management, students expressed concerns over the `increasing surveillance' in the form of the biometric attendance system that will be introduced from the next semester, more security guards and needing to obtain permissions from various government organisations to bring guests on campus.
The students' letter, a copy of which is with Mirror, stated that the increased surveillance served two purposes: to clear the path for privatisation of the institute and to control the movements and activities of the students.
The letter also stated, “When the University Grants Commission issued security guidelines which included installation of CCTV cameras, biometric identification for marking attendance of students in classes and hostels, setting up police stations inside the university campus, and having a `Student Counselling System' through which parents, teachers, and hostel wardens can exchange information about the `personal details of students, academic record, and behaviour patterns' TISS's response was that we have already been following these guidelines! Then, this semester we received a notification for procedures to be followed for inviting guest speakers wherein students need to not just inform the administration but also the local police, Crime Branch and other government intelligence organizations.“
Students said that such restrictions would not go down well. An internal survey revealed that 66 per cent of students did not want such security measures on campus. “We have asked the administration to consult us or at least take us in confidence before imposing such restrictions,“ one stu dent said.
Some TISS students also posted this message on Facebook: “We, as students of TISS, must come together and fight these attempts of the administration to sabotage and control activities and movements of students. This should be seen as part of larger scheme to promote privatisation and Brahminisation of higher education institutions. We must claim our democratic right to educate, agitate and organize and be part of the larger struggles for creating a more egalitarian and just society.“
In September, Mirror reported about how students, in the middle of a gender-sensitisation week, found themselves confronted with the very misogyny they were trying to fight after a blank poster put up on the campus for students to write about their experiences of sexual harassment had the following scribbled in bold, red script: “Sexism is an accusation sluts level against dissenting voices for recognising that a slut is a slut.“
Students said that since then, instead of looking at the larger issue of sexism and discrimination, the authorities have only hired more security guards. “There is surveillance at every step,“ a female student said, on the condition of anonymity. “Why doesn't the institute focus on real problems like scholarships and sensitivity training?“ While asked about the students' concerns, professor Shalini Bharat, deputy director, (Academics), TISS said that the biometric system was only to mark attendance and would not be linked to any database. “The acting director has constituted a committee to look into all the concerns and issues regarding the proposed biometric system. A decision on the process of implementation will be reached by a five-member committee comprising the deputy director (Academics), the registrar, a senior professor and two student representatives.No decision will be taken without the approval of this committee. The institute shall not give the data to any third party. At the end of the final semester, the fingerprint data will be deleted and that process will be overseen by the committee,“ Bharat said.
Source: Mumbai Mirror, 22-10-2016
The students' letter, a copy of which is with Mirror, stated that the increased surveillance served two purposes: to clear the path for privatisation of the institute and to control the movements and activities of the students.
The letter also stated, “When the University Grants Commission issued security guidelines which included installation of CCTV cameras, biometric identification for marking attendance of students in classes and hostels, setting up police stations inside the university campus, and having a `Student Counselling System' through which parents, teachers, and hostel wardens can exchange information about the `personal details of students, academic record, and behaviour patterns' TISS's response was that we have already been following these guidelines! Then, this semester we received a notification for procedures to be followed for inviting guest speakers wherein students need to not just inform the administration but also the local police, Crime Branch and other government intelligence organizations.“
Students said that such restrictions would not go down well. An internal survey revealed that 66 per cent of students did not want such security measures on campus. “We have asked the administration to consult us or at least take us in confidence before imposing such restrictions,“ one stu dent said.
Some TISS students also posted this message on Facebook: “We, as students of TISS, must come together and fight these attempts of the administration to sabotage and control activities and movements of students. This should be seen as part of larger scheme to promote privatisation and Brahminisation of higher education institutions. We must claim our democratic right to educate, agitate and organize and be part of the larger struggles for creating a more egalitarian and just society.“
In September, Mirror reported about how students, in the middle of a gender-sensitisation week, found themselves confronted with the very misogyny they were trying to fight after a blank poster put up on the campus for students to write about their experiences of sexual harassment had the following scribbled in bold, red script: “Sexism is an accusation sluts level against dissenting voices for recognising that a slut is a slut.“
Students said that since then, instead of looking at the larger issue of sexism and discrimination, the authorities have only hired more security guards. “There is surveillance at every step,“ a female student said, on the condition of anonymity. “Why doesn't the institute focus on real problems like scholarships and sensitivity training?“ While asked about the students' concerns, professor Shalini Bharat, deputy director, (Academics), TISS said that the biometric system was only to mark attendance and would not be linked to any database. “The acting director has constituted a committee to look into all the concerns and issues regarding the proposed biometric system. A decision on the process of implementation will be reached by a five-member committee comprising the deputy director (Academics), the registrar, a senior professor and two student representatives.No decision will be taken without the approval of this committee. The institute shall not give the data to any third party. At the end of the final semester, the fingerprint data will be deleted and that process will be overseen by the committee,“ Bharat said.
Source: Mumbai Mirror, 22-10-2016
