Even as it awaits the arrival of newly-appointed chairman Anupam Kher to take charge, a fresh round of trouble is brewing at the FTII Campus in Pune.
WHAT ‘LETTER TO KHER’ SAYS
The letter addressed to Kher says, “Dear sir, while you must be busy taking congratulatory messages, we would also like to bring your attention to the following issues persisting in the iconic institute that you will be heading as the chairman. Also, we are curious to know your take on these issues.”
WHAT IS THE MATTER
The nine broad issues mentioned in the letter sent by the FTII students association include short-term courses started by the FTII, money spend on events at the cost of infrastructure, classes being cut down in the new syllabus, light-men reduced to contractual labours and inadequate resources to finish courses on time even as students have been forced to sign undertakings to finish courses on time.
This letter to Kher has the names of FTII students’ association president Robin Roy and general secretary Rohit Kumar. The 62-year-old Kher was appointed as FTII chairman more than six months after Gajendra Chauhan’s tenure was over.
BACKGROUND
The letter comes a day after FTII students held their meeting to discuss the appointment of Kher and the latest flashpoint between them and the administration over the expulsion of students. The students were served expulsion notices after they boycotted meetings as a part of dialogue exercise, a project for third semester students. According to FTII students’ association president Robin Roy, the students have been expelled for the current semester after they did not remain present during the meeting as a part of the dialogue exercise. These students have been asked to vacate their hostels.
