Govt mulls Centre of National Excellence status for FTII,SRFTI

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government plans to accord the Centre of National Excellence status to the country's two premier film institutes, FTII-Pune and SRFTI-Kolkata, and will bring a law in this regard in Parliament soon.

Interacting with students and faculty members of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, he also said the government would hold discussions with all stakeholders before finalising the draft of new cinematograph act.

"The government to bring statute to make both institutes; FTII, Pune and SRFTI (Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute), Kolkata as Centres of National Excellence," Javadekar said on Twitter.

This measure would enable the institutes to draw a road map to address the growing needs of media and entertainment industry.

The erstwhile UPA government also had a plan to bring a bill to accord the Centre of National Excellence status to FTII. Then Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni had said the government would bring a bill in this regard.

The measure was expected to enable the institute to foster creative ideas and enjoy the academic status and privileges of a university. It was also expected to facilitate students to pursue higher studies and research in both India and abroad.

A group of experts had prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) way back in 2011 for the proposed upgradation of FTII. The DPR broadly contained recommendations for revitalisation of the courses being offered by the institute. It also envisaged enhancing the infrastructure.

In another tweet, Javadekar said the government would "ensure complete modernisation and upgradation of FTII as planned" and "provide all budgetary support".

On the new Cinematograph Act, the minister said, "Before the finalisation of draft on Cinematograph act we will hold discussions with all the stakeholders."

Sweeping changes in the present the Cinematograph Act, 1952 have been in the offing for the past 12 years with successive chairpersons of the Central Board of Film Certification suggesting an overhaul of the legislation.

The draft Cinematograph Bill 2010, prepared during the UPA regime, had incorporated features to substantially change the scenario of the Indian film industry and its certification process.

The new bill aims at incorporating technological developments that have vastly changed since 1952 when the Cinematograph Act was enacted, and mulls harsher penalties in cases of copyright violations.