Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute students protesting for past 9 days; here’s why

NEW DELHI: The students of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) have been protesting for the past nine days against the CCTV installation and the administration’s negligence to provide basic necessities like food, water, healthcare, safety, and redressal of harassment cases. “The administration of SRFTI has a history of intimidating and suppressing the protesting students approaching them with demands for their basic needs,” a press statement by the students read.

Despite the continuing protests on various issues, the administration “has not taken any meaningful action” to address the safety and well-being concerns of students. The statement said that the recent decision to install CCTV cameras as security measures has only intensified the concerns as it fails to address the root cause of the problems, and called it “absurd and authoritarian”.

The students alleged that “last year, the Dean explicitly threatened protesting students using CCTV footage, instead of being sympathetic to the bullied and harassed students”.

“This move is clearly an attempt to exert control over students through constant surveillance, masquerading as a safety measure…This blatant misuse of surveillance to stifle dissent is unacceptable, and it highlights the administration's disregard for the real needs and well-being of the students community,” it said.

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Misconduct allegations against faculty

The students claimed that there are complaints of bullying and harassment by multiple faculty members that are not duly addressed or transparently resolved. They also highlighted the complaints against a faculty and said that despite him admitting to charges of discrimination and bullying, he now holds significant positions like the head of the ICC for the staff members that examines sensitive complaints of sexual harassment. No official action has been taken against the faculty, even in cases where they admitted to the charges reported against them, they claimed.

Quality of food, water

A large section of students complained that the water in hostel premises is not suitable for drinking or daily use. Several cases of students falling ill with skin infection and gastrointestinal diseases.

“Despite the persistent complaints of students finding glass shreds, threads and even worms in their food in the mess, the admin has not made any effort in improving the mess infrastructure. Unhygienic kitchen area and inadequate dining space, coupled with insufficient mess subsidy has created a situation where students struggle for their basic right like food even as the administration washes its hand off the issue,” the statement read.

Safety issues

The students also pointed out the substandard working conditions on campus, which has led to multiple injuries. In a recent incident, a light-boy was injured on the film floor of the campus where heavy equipment is stored.

“Multiple injuries among students and staff in the lighting and art departments have occurred, yet there is no job permanency, increased pay, or healthcare benefits like an insurance cover for the staff working with heavy machinery and high voltage electric appliances,” the statement read.

“There is not even an ambulance on campus, neither are the students working in these hazardous conditions insured. Working conditions on the shooting floors are made further unsafe by neglect of the Art Direction Faculty and substandard maintenance by the administration, whereas workers on the set including the ground staff and students continue to be exposed to these unsafe conditions,” students said.