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Day 25 - FTII strike continues

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I&B ministry assures all help to resolve FTII issues

NEW DELHI: Refuting speculation of privatization or shutting shop, I&B ministry has fast-tracked the move to give FTII , the status of institute of national importance along the lines of IITs and IIMs. In a meeting called by cabinet secretary P K Sinha on June 25, I&B and HRD ministries were asked to include the film institute in the Common Universities Act. This will not only give the institute autonomy, bring it international recognition but also allow it to grant degrees.The move comes in the midst of a stalemate between the ministry and striking students who are demanding the removal of Gajendra Chauhan from the position of FTII chairman. Students have stuck to their guns despite a meeting with I&B minister Arun Jaitley, who assured them of significant improvements and non-interference in the institute’s functioning."We are in consultation with the HRD ministry and will aim at bringing the bill in Parliament by year-end," a senior official said.Sources in the ministry said that FTII students were among those who enjoyed the most subsidized education. The government is slated to spend Rs 12 lakh in the current financial year on each student’s education. In comparison the government spends Rs 3.5 lakh on an IIT student.A cost review by the chief advisor found that the extent of recovery through fees, hostel rent and other expenses as a percentage of expenditure in academic activities in FTII has decreased from 25% in 2006-2007 to as low as 11% in 2010-2011.To top this, FTII has been hit by as many as 39 strikes with no convocation for the 17 years and students from the 2008 batch continuing to pursue their courses.Officials said that the Geeta Krishnan Committee had clearly recommended that both SRFTI and FTII be handed over to the film industry. The ministry, however, while not having implemented the recommendation of handing it over to the film industry, has been endeavouring to support these institutions to become centers of excellence, officials said.The ministry also has plans for massive infrastructure investment to the tune of Rs 80 crore. This includes Rs 37 crore for technical upgradation of studios, cameras, post production equipment and another Rs 43 crore in physical infrastructure. A total spending of Rs 200 crore for five years is on the cards. ``If the ministry is spending public money in the Institute, it is well within its right to appoint a governing council to ensure accountability and transparency in its working,’’ a source had said earlier.The government has also found that Bollywood an otherwise thriving industry and one of the world’s largest is unwilling to invest either time or resources for FTII. ``There are many people who are supporting the strike, but when we ask eminent filmmakers to take time out to run the institute or come and teach they refuse. The students were told that it was the industry’s responsibility as well to ensure that the educational institute that they benefitted so much from, should be invested in,’’ sources said.While the ministry has been clear that there will be no re-think on Chauhan’s appointment, it has offered to address these pending problems even assuring students that they would be equal partners in the process. The agitating students however appear to have turned down the offer and continue their protest.