Uncertainty looms over Satyajit Ray Film Institute

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata has been shut down for indefinite periods by the workers of Centre of India Trade Unions (CITU), after the standoff created by the agitating member of CITU against the newly recruited security guards.

The problem begun after CITU, a labour wing of CPI-M clashed with the management on the question of their replacement by new security guards as the security guards are affiliated to the CITU.

Reportedly after the management body decided to replace the security agency with new one, the CITU worker launched a huge protest and clashed with the management body.

The director of SRFTI Swapan Mullick said, “The contract period of the guards under GD Security agency came to an end on March 31. We were not satisfied with their service. So we replaced them with guards from Star security and Detective Service. But the new guards were not allowed to take the charge and for the safety of the students we decided to close the campus.”

The film institute has asked for state and centre intervention to get them out of the gridlock created by CITU workers.

SRFTI chairman Buddhadev Dasgupta said, “As a filmmaker, this hurts me that the administration has had to face a situation where there's no other way but to call for a closure.”

Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting while reacting to the closure of SRFTI said, “Let CITU decides if SRFTI will run or remain closed.” He said that SRFTI has been given more grant this year to modernise the film institute along with the film institute in Pune.

Looking at the disorders the ministry also cancelled a film festival to be organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

The union insists on to reinstate the security staffs as they have been working there for decades and there is no place to go for them. Reportedly the workers were also demanding a salary hike.

SFRTI was established in 1995, three years he died by the Government of India under the ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The institute is second of its kind to offer post graduate diploma courses in film and television.