Top Pune institutes bask in Union Budget sun

FTII all set for lights,camera and... revamp

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, stands to gain considerably from this year's Budget, with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry allocating Rs 117.17 crore for films in the 'demands and grants' section, part of which will be used for revamping of institutions such as the FTII and the National Film Archives of India.

The announcement has brought smiles on the faces of both teaching and non-teaching staff of FTII. They were told by its director in January-end that their January and February salary could be delayed, and was likely to be paid along with the March salary in early April.

Newsline had reported about the cash crunch the FTII was facing which had upset the employees and affected its future plans. FTII is considered a leading film institute in Asia and employs 260 staff of which 180 are permanent and the rest are on contract.

Speaking to Newsline, the Institute's director DJ Narain said they had submitted a plan for Rs 80 crores under the 12th Five Year Plan. "In the proposal, we have segregated the funds into building and construction expenses and purchase of filming equipment."

Under the 'demands for grants', Rs 117.17 crore has been allotted under the head 'films' in the budget allocation for the ministry of information and broadcasting. The provision under this head covers 'grants' to the FTII, "which imparts training in the art and technique of film making".

An additional sum of Rs 28 crore has been granted under the head "buildings and machinery". This grant includes funds for upgrading building infrastructure of the Films Division, Mumbai, as well as setting up of National Press Centre, New Delhi, of Press Information Bureau and for acquisition of equipment by the Films Division, Central Board of Film Certification, Press Information Bureau, Directorate of Film Publicity, Film and Television Institute of India, Photo Division, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Electronic Media Monitoring Centre and Song and Drama Division under their modernisation programme.

... contd.

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