FTI Arunachal Pradesh In Crisis

An ongoing protest by the first batch of students of the Film and Television Institute, Arunachal Pradesh (FTI AP), is bringing to light serious concerns regarding administrative apathy and an acute infrastructural crisis at the new establishment. The second 바카라�academic halt바카라�, called by the FTI students on May 12, has followed their months-long protests against the absence of basic services, poor infrastructure, incomplete buildings, unreliable access to electricity, water, and food, and the lack of basic safety and academic facilities. After multiple letters and requests to the administration of FTI AP and its parent institution, SRFTI, Kolkata, students have called for an academic halt twice in the last two and a half months.

The condition of the campus located at Jollang-Rakap (Jote) in the Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh바카라�24 kilometres from the state capital, Itanagar바카라�is far from what was pledged. What began as a source of hope and excitement for aspiring filmmakers, actors, and writers has become a site of distress, with students suffering mentally and emotionally due to ongoing neglect and the lack of even the most essential resources expected in a film school.

The Planning of FTI AP

Back in 2015, amidst protests staged by students of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman, the central government sanctioned the establishment of a new FTI campus in Arunachal Pradesh. Established under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, FTI AP functions under the administrative control of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata. The then Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh, informed the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Nabam Tuki, that the central government had approved the setting up of a film institute in the state, recognising its immense potential and scenic appeal.

The decision to open a campus in the Northeast was deliberate, aimed at tapping into the region바카라�s filmmaking talent. Establishing such a prestigious institute in the region was a welcome and significant step that promised to reshape how students in the Northeast perceive filmmaking.

The further development of FTI Arunachal Pradesh, sanctioned initially in 2015, was formally announced during the Union Budget of 2017. The foundation stone for the institute was laid in 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project was expected to be completed within 25 months, with a sanctioned construction budget of ₹128.7 crore. However, earlier expenditure planning by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) in 2017 had estimated a total cost of ₹204.32 crore for the institute.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting dated February 9, 2019, the campus was designed to offer three core programmes바카라�screen acting, screenwriting, and documentary cinema바카라�and promised comprehensive infrastructure. With the institute granted Deemed University status under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, it had raised hopes of becoming a hub for aspiring filmmakers from the Northeast region.

The Current Deplorable Condition

Most of the students, who had enrolled enthusiastically at FTI AP and are primarily from outside the Northeast region, are now grappling with the hardships of living on a remote campus without access to the most basic facilities and with no easy connection to the city.

The crisis started even before students arrived on campus. According to their allegations, they were left in the dark after receiving admission offers with no official updates about when they were expected to join. As part of the admission process, they were also required to sign an affidavit stating that they acknowledged the campus바카라�s infrastructural setting and would not contest any future changes made by the institution. Despite several individual emails requesting an orientation or clarification on institutional protocols before signing the document, the administration failed to respond. With the deadline approaching, students had no choice but to sign the documents under pressure.

However, the academic session did not begin on time, leaving them uncertain and financially vulnerable. They remained in limbo and could not take up interim work or studies due to the lack of communication. Only in the first week of January 2025 did the administration inform them of the commencement of online classes바카라�a stopgap solution to the unexplained delay in starting regular academic activities.

On January 9, students sent their first official letter to the administration, demanding functional on-campus facilities and raising concerns over critical issues such as infrastructure, academic clarity, and essential services바카라�fundamentals of any educational institution.

The issues raised by the students in their first official letter reveal the barely developed and non-functionality of the institution. They expressed serious concerns regarding poor infrastructure, unclear academic plans, abrupt transitions to online classes, lack of basic facilities, unaddressed grievances, and communication gaps that caused stress and uncertainty.

Following the deadline set by the students, SRFTI responded on January 13, assuring that the concerns were being addressed. However, when students arrived on campus on March 8, they were shocked to find the institute in a deplorable state. Contrary to the claim that 70% of the construction was completed, students observed that barely 10% of the campus was finished.

There were 23 buildings under construction, with nine prioritised to be made operational for the first semester, according to SRFTI바카라�s response on January 13. Yet, the library block had only its first floor, with half the space functioning as a makeshift library (separated by a curtain) and the other half serving as a temporary Classroom Theatre (CRT) for 45 students. Students also raised concerns about the comparatively high fees, requesting a fee concession, which is not permanent until the institute becomes fully operational.

Also Read | Film Festival In Kolkata To Showcase 'Finest Cinematic Works' From Across The World

A student from the acting programme shared that the campus currently lacks hostel facilities, forcing them to stay in transit accommodations and guest houses. They experienced weeks without Wi-Fi, leaving many disconnected from family and friends. Even when students and teachers tried to work with personal computers and cameras, unstable electricity frequently disrupted their work. During a class screening and discussion, a power outage forced them to rely on a faculty member바카라�s laptop and their recollection of film scenes to continue the discussion.

Students remarked that even though the institution is fully aware that filmmaking and screenwriting programmes require dedicated workstations, there is no designated space where students can settle down and work. Several students have also highlighted the absence of medical centres or first-aid facilities on the remote campus, which is located in the middle of a forest. This lack poses serious risks when urgent medical attention is necessary.

Read More | Tripura To Get Its First Film Institute: Minister Sushanta Chowdhury

The Two Academic Halts

Due to these long-standing grievances and repeated administrative inaction, students announced the first academic halt on March 24. The institution convened a meeting on March 25 between the students and Campus Director Jane Namchu, Deputy Registrar Deepak Kumar, Chief Academic Coordinator Bishnu Dev Halder, and Nodal Officer Saikat Ray. During the meeting, students raised the following demands:

바카라� The Classroom Theatre (CRT) and Performing Studio must fully function within 10 days.

바카라� Immediate appointment of a dedicated in-campus Director.

바카라� 24x7 power backup, access to clean drinking and bathing water, and full Wi-Fi connectivity must be ensured.

바카라� A 24x7 nurse, a visiting MBBS/RMP doctor, a stocked medical store, and a dedicated emergency vehicle with a driver must be arranged.

바카라� An academic calendar and details of external faculty must be provided without delay, and students must be involved in syllabus-related discussions and decisions.

바카라� A fully functional library, a well-equipped gym, and access to film archives must be set up within 10 days.

바카라� A detailed fee breakdown and fee concessions must be provided immediately since full facilities are not offered.

바카라� Food vendors must be made available on campus, and mess and canteen facilities must be separated.

Read More | Cannes 2025: Dates, Jury, Where To Watch- All You Need To Know About The Film Festival

Following the meeting, the institute gave no definite response to these concerns. Students sent another letter on March 26 requesting action, but it went unanswered. They sent a follow-up letter on March 31 seeking a response to their earlier letter and requested a meeting with the SRFTI Director. The institute replied only after this follow-up, with Chief Academic Coordinator Bishnu Dev Halder providing limited updates on a few issues discussed on March 25.

In another letter dated April 23, students of FTI Arunachal Pradesh demanded student ID cards and official email IDs. Due to continued inaction from the institution, the students called for a second academic halt on May 12.

Students have stated that when they raised demands for better campus infrastructure and faster construction, they were told that the first batch of any institution must expect to go through such difficulties. Despite this, they have been forced to continue their academic sessions without proper classrooms and classroom theatres, with only 10 books available in the library at the time of joining.

Read More | Assamese Short Film By Young Director Qualifies For Oscar Race

According to them, the makeshift sound classrooms have water leaking inside. Landslides inside the campus are washing away the already unsafe roads. Some students have suffered accidents due to this poor condition. The campus is becoming increasingly unsafe, compromising their well-being and academics.

On the condition of anonymity, one of the protesting students said, 바카라�In the prospectus, they write that we will receive a state-of-the-art facility. This is the only institute in our country with a documentary cinema, and they do not have shooting tools. We have repeatedly been told that we must suffer because we are the inaugural batch. This institution was planned for 2022, and a ribbon-cutting by the Prime Minister was supposed to happen by December last year. It is May 2025, and no building has been handed over in proper condition. So, is it my fault that I wrote the exam for this and that they brought me here, promising a state-of-the-art facility? Is it my fault that I chose this? We haven바카라�t seen any upside to being the inaugural batch.바카라�

Another student remarked that it is shameful that while they should be fighting for things like good cameras, they are instead fighting for basics like electricity and water, non-negotiable necessities that should be provided without having to ask. 바카라�Only after calling us here did they realise that clean water and daily meals are necessary, and a proper classroom is required for quality education. Only after enrolling us did they find out the classroom was too small for 45 students.바카라�

Read Moe | Emerging Indian Talents: Student Films Shine At IFFR And Cannes

Students have also alleged that, as a national film institute, they do not offer projectors large enough for student screenings. According to sources, one student even left the programme due to the institutional failure to open the campus and its facilities. As another one of them put it, 바카라�We are fighting for basic rights, and they make us feel like we are being entitled. There is a notion in the administration that we are halting for holidays. And that this is fun for us.바카라�

Deputy Registrar Deepak Kumar has acknowledged that the students' ongoing protest and academic halt are "legitimate and understandable". He admits that several key buildings essential for the academic semester have not yet been completed or handed over by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). According to him, the administration has constantly communicated with CPWD. In a recent meeting with the Chief Engineer, held in the presence of four to five students to ensure transparency, CPWD reportedly assured that the remaining buildings would be handed over in phases till December. Kumar further stated that the CPWD has cited challenges in completing the work due to the institute's remote location. He noted that the situation is also affecting faculty, who currently have no proper workspace on campus. The administration, he said, continues to push CPWD for faster delivery while simultaneously urging students to resume classes to avoid further loss of time.

At the time of filing this report, other members of the administration, faculty, and institutional representatives did not respond to multiple emails, text messages, and phone calls seeking comments. Some of them have declined to speak on the record.