TISS has been viewed as the harbinger of positive social change and inclusive development where all are provided equal opportunity irrespective of status of physical disabilities, caste and gender. The Institute truly provides an inclusive environment for one and all.

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) attempt to embed diversity and inclusion in every aspect of their work and strive to create a just and inclusive space for all on campus. We trust that diversity enhances student life on campus and thus we work towards facilitating a more vibrant and dynamic supporting environment.

Key aspects:

Support for Students from Economically and Socially Weaker backgrounds:

TISS OSA has widened and strengthened its scope and resources to disburse funds for the students in need. There is a robust mechanism in place to assess and extend necessary support to students from marginalised sections.

This ensures students from such backgrounds are able to pursue their studies at the institute with minimal strain.

In addition to financial support provided through the Student Aid process, supports are extended to students by way of providing laptops and assistance for data packs since the beginning of online mode of education triggered by Covid-19 pandemic and resultant closure of physical classes in educational institutions.

The institute continue to exempt course fee payment for students from SSC/ST communities who are eligible for GOI-PMS. For OBC NC students who are eligible for GOI-PMS, Institute has reduced the caution deposit to 2,500/- from 10,000 at par with SC/ST students eligible for GOI-PMS. In addition to this, an upfront aid of Rs.12,000 is provided to all the students whose annual income is less than 1 Lakh per annum (the ceiling fixed for GOI-PMS eligibility for OBC-NC students). This is an important affirmative practice the institute adheres to ensure a barrier free entry to various academic programmes at the Institute at the time of admission.

Support for Students with Disabilities on campus

MK Tata Memorial Learning Center for Visually Challenged:

Set up in the year 2008, MK Tata Learning Centre caters to the Visually Challenged enrolled to TISS program, and is located in the Library ground floor. This is an air-conditioned lab with computers loaded with assistive technologies for the visually impaired. Its significant features are listed below.

• Multimedia Systems: 15 Dell Intel i3 Computers with Windows OS
• Antivirus: Quick heal total security Antivirus for 3 years for protecting computers from the virus (Malware, Spyware, Data Theft, security issues)
• HP Flatbed Scanners: Scanners for reading all print books and journals. These are attached each workstation in the lab.
• JAWS Pro Talking Software: For conversion of a normal PC into a Talking PC to enable the blind to operate computers independently including Internet access and also to train blind persons on using the computer.
• Kurzweil 1000 OCR reading software : An excellent support for blind students to read any printed books from the library to have independent access to not only their text-books but also other general reading. It is used with a combination of a scanner and a PC.
• Index Basic D Braille Embosser: Index Basic D is a High Speed, Double sided Tractor Feed continuous sheet. Important features are: it produces 2 pages i.e. front and back at the same time. The acoustic cabinet reduces noise level during printing as well as protection of the printer from heat and dust. It also enables collection of the paper in an orderly manner.
• Talking Typing Teacher Pro: Talking Typing tutorials specially designed for the blind with complete guidance & practice lessons for learning keyboarding skills & developing typing speed in a systematic manner. Since the program also has a complete display of all lessons, even the low vision students can read and learn to type.
• Freedom Scientific’s SARA : Freedom Scientific’s SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance ) is an affordable and easy –to-use solution for reading a wide variety of printed material including books, mail, newspapers, magazines, and so much more. SARA uses the latest in advanced optical character recognition technology to scan text and then read it aloud in crisp, clear speech. SARA automatically stores and remembers the contents of hundreds of thousands of scanned pages.
• High Speed Internet Connectivity: Assistive Technology Centre systems are connectied with institutes's 1 Gbps primary INTERNET leased line provided by National Knowledge Network (NKN).

Besides this, through the field action project I-Access mission, TISS has a buddy program to help the needs of persons with disabilities, the assessment process is as per the RPWD Act 2018 and we also have a bi-annual festival called Mehfil on campus that celebrates inclusivity. I access mission also conducts periodic access audits and addresses the concerns of students with disability.

The centre for Disability Studies and Action conducts various activities on awareness of PWD. Challenging Challenges is an important student event that the Centre organises every years to sensitise students on concerns around disability The main objective of Challenging Challenges is- to facilitate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in a larger social context.

The specific objectives are:

• To enable individuals to reflect and gain insights into the daily life activities of persons with disabilities.
• To enhance the awareness about the experience of being impaired.
• To develop a sensitive and inclusive environment for persons with disabilities.