The Information and Broadcasting ministry on Tuesday decided to constitute a team to assess the ground situation at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a day after students gheraoed director Prashant <g data-gr-id="20">Pathrabe</g> in his office in Pune over “assessment” process.
It is learnt that the team of senior officials will visit Pune and study the situation where the students have been opposing the ongoing “assessment” of incomplete diploma film projects of the 2008 batch.
Academic activity in FTII is at a standstill with the agitation by students demanding <g data-gr-id="33">removal</g> of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman entering the 69th day on Tuesday. While FTII Students’ Association (FSA) have called the “assessment” unjustified, authorities have held that the process is important for the premier institution.
Sources said that FTII administration has been concerned over the fact that several students of the 2008 batch have not yet passed out of the institute. <g data-gr-id="25">Therefore</g> officials said <g data-gr-id="24"><g data-gr-id="27">the the</g></g> projects of 2008 batch have been assessed on as is where is <g data-gr-id="23">basis</g> as per norms which the students are opposing.
There are also concerns the staying on by previous batches affects the fresh batches. Officials said that while there have been zero admission years, they have not served the purpose towards resolving problems at FTII. “The academic council headed by the then chairman had way back on April 26, <g data-gr-id="29">2013</g> decided that 2008 batch diploma assessment is to be done in February 2014 on as is where is basis,” a senior official said.
Sources said that there were several times during last year notices were given related to assessment and passing out of the 2008 batch after which the students would have to vacate the hostel.