FTII students intensify stir

Institute chairman greeted with posters, leaflets lambasting short-term courses

There has been no let up in the protests by the students of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) against the Hewitt Committee report that advocates introduction of expensive short-term courses.

During the visit of FTII chairman Dr UR Ananthmurthy on Tuesday, the students put up posters, gave away leaflets and even shouted slogans asking the authorities to make a fair decision on the issue.

"The purpose behind the protest was to make the authorities clear about our intentions. We do not want the institute to become private or run expensive short-term courses. We will not let the governing body take any such decision," said Samarth Dixit, member of Student Body Council.
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He added that Dr Anandmurthy sounded positive while addressing the students. "He assured us that he will look at the report submitted in October by the Nair Committee."

The Chairman after looking at the situation has called for an emergency Governing Council (GC) meeting. He said the GC is being convened to give the PK Nair committee official mandate, and address the issue of the admission of a new batch in the face of an ill-equipped institute.u00a0u00a0u00a0

However, Pankag Nag, director of FTII said the entire situation has been misinterpreted by the students and media.

"We are not talking about privatisation here. It has been recommended that certain short-term courses be introduced at a higher fee structure,"u00a0 Nag said.

He also admitted that among all the protests, it's the career and filmmaking process of the students, which is being affected. "It's the students who are being affected the most. We will have to wait and see what decision the GC takes today."