Govt in talks to turn FTII into ‘centre of excellence’

As the government remains firm on the appointment of television actor Gajendra Chauhan as Director, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), the deadlock with striking students continues. Sources in the I&B Ministry said while the government has a clear roadmap for taking the institute forward, the stakeholders concerned do not understand this. On Monday, the students’ strike against Chauhan’s appointment entered the 25th day.

To compound matters, actor Pallavi Joshi resigned as member of the FTII Society today and is said to have written an e-mail to the Ministry saying she does not want to be part of the society. This comes close on the heels of Assamese filmmaker Jahnu Barua and FTII alumni and cinematographer Santosh Sivan reportedly expressing their desire not to be considered as members of the FTII Society or its governing council.

Centres of excellence Meanwhile, a note prepared by the I&B Ministry said the government was committed to converting two film institutes – FTII and Satayjit Ray Film and Television Institute of India (SRFTI) -- and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) as institutions of national importance and “centres of excellence” and that the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry had been mandated to examine the I&B Ministry’s proposals in this regard under the existing schedule of the Central University Act.

The Geeta Krishnan Committee report on expenditure reforms at FTII and SRFTI had recommended that these institutes be handed over to the film industry.

However, the I&B Ministry did not accept the recommendation and has prepared a legislative framework for the same.

“The proposal of making FTII, SRFTI and IIMC as institutions of national importance and the centres of excellence is in advance stage of consultation with the HRD Ministry,” an official said.

The official said this is despite the fact that the extent of recovery through fees and hostel fees as a percentage of expenditure on academic activities in FTII has decreased from 25 per cent in 2006-07 to 11 per cent in 2010-11.

I&B Ministry officials said a “massive infrastructure revitalisation” process is on. The government has plans to spend about ₹40 crore, which includes Plan and non-Plan Budget allocation every year, with about ₹200 crore to be spent in the five-year period.

Officials said FTII has had a “chequered” past and has seen repeated agitations by the students.

As of 2002, five out of 10 FTII heads have had to relinquish charge due to strikes by students or their resistance to accept changes in the functioning of the institute. These include Mohan Agashe, John Shankarmangalam, KG Varma, Girish Karnad, and NVK Murthy, they said.

Jaitley’s assurance On the meeting between the protesting students and I&B Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday, sources said the Minister had assured the students that any suggestion that would strengthen the processes of creating these “centres of excellence” would be welcomed for reference while making the appropriate legislative framework.

Meanwhile, FTII students, while releasing the details of their communication with Jaitley said they were ‘disappointed” as their main demand of setting up an expert committee to suggest guidelines on the FTII society went unheeded.

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