Govt firm on FTII chairman's appointment

Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Arun Jaitley has accepted most of the demands of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students.

However, the minister was firm on the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chouhan as chairman of the institute’s society.

At a meeting with a delegation of students and alumni here on Friday evening, the minister assured them of taking all steps to improve the functioning of the FTII.

The minister also assured them that there would be a “complete academic independence” at the institute and “no untoward interference of any kind” by anyone would be allowed. He asked the students and alumni delegation to form a committee and recommend improvement in the curriculum, official sources told Deccan Herald. The ministry had invited the institute’s delegation for talks as the students, joined by FTII alumni and various film and television personalities, have been on strike for several days protesting the appointment of Chouhan.

“Many issues were discussed with them. For last 17 years, no convocation has been held at the institute as a result of an unsavory incident in 1997 involving to the unbecoming behaviour of students. This has prevented the successive governing council from having further convocation. It’s a matter of serious concern. Is it not a matter of pride for students to have convocation?.. The government wants to make it a centre of excellence,” official sources said.

Various committees have been formed to formulate post production norms and disciplinary norms, essential for successful implementation of the syllabus.  “The institute is now at a cusp of a change. A lot has been done during the last three years,” sources said, adding the students’ strike was coming in way of all reforms measures that the government’s plan.

About a decade ago, an Expenditure Reforms Commission, headed by Geeta Krishnan, clearly recommended in its report that both FTII and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) be handed over to the film industry.

The ministry, however, is making efforts to make these institutes centres of excellence and has even prepared a legislative framework towards this end. “The proposal is at an advanced stage of consultation with the Ministry of Human Resource Development,” sources added.

As the FTII student and alumni delegation left for Pune on Saturday saying they will discuss with the students suggestions made by the government. “The average cost of education for the FTII student funded by the state, being in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year per student, needs to be seen in the context of the commitment of the institution, alumni and students in completing the course in time. FTII in the past many years has had to financially bear with delayed batches. The oldest batch of 2008 is still pursuing their course in the institute and should be a cause of concern to all,” ministry sources said.
DH News Service