The end is so near,yet so far

The SRFTI — one of the most recognised film institutes in the country — was closed down on April 1 after students complained about the lack of basic facilities inside the campus.

“Whenever we try to approach the authorities with our problems,they don’t listen to us. On March 31,when some of us went to discuss our long-standing problems with members of the administrative board,we were asked to go,” said Ramanuj,a second year student.

“The authorities are always trying to portray us as students who indulge in violence and use this as an excuse to stop classes,” he added.

The continuing stalemate,notwithstanding,the authorities are yet to fix a date for the governing council meeting which is the only way to resolve the deadlock.

“We are trying to reopen the institute as soon as possible. We will hold the governing body meeting soon,but we have not come up with a date yet,” said Buddhadeb Dasgupta,the filmmaker and the chairman of SRFTI.

Among other irregularities at the institute,students allege poor maintenance of equipment,delay in projects,no fixed academic structures,deteriorating conditions of film reels that are screened as part of the syllabus and under-dated library collection.