Mumbai: The Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata has been closed indefinitely after the authorities declared the institution’s indefinite closure when the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) backed workers resisted the entry of a new group of security workers.

 

Authorities of SRFTI have also asked students to vacate the campus hostel. SRFTI authorities have sought the help of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to remove the deadlock at the institute.

 

As per media reports, the authorities had asked for a new batch by the security agency after the existing group of security men asked for a pay hike besides other related benefits with the support of CITU.

 

"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," SRFTI chairman Buddhadev Dasgupta was quoted as saying.

 

In the light of this development, the I&B ministry also had to cancel a film festival to be organized by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

 

I&B minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said, "I have spoken to Mr Sujan Chakraborty, local CPI-M MP and requested him to look into the matter. I have given more grants to SRFTI than FTII, Pune with the hope that it will be run properly. But, now the situation is such that CITU will decide the fate of this institution. A special film festival of NFDC had to be cancelled because of the current impasse."

 

Earlier this year, Dasmunsi had announced a grant of Rs 300 million (Rs 30 crores) for modernizing the Pune and Kolkata film institutes namely FTII and SRFTI respectively.