FFM sets Mar 10 deadline for State Film Policy implementation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 15 2018:
Film Forum Manipur (FFM) has set March 10 as the deadline to the State Government for implementation of Manipur State Film Policy and commencement of academic session for Manipur State Film Institute, failing which the forum will take up various democratic forms of agitation from March 11 .
Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, FFM general secretary Ng Ganashyam Singh reminded that Manipur State Film Policy was approved by the previous Government in September 2016 .
He regretted that the Government has not taken up any significant step for implementation of the film , policy even after seeking opinions and feedbacks from the public and experts for necessary addition and correction from August 28 to September 28 of this year.
He appealed to the Government to discuss the matter in the ongoing Assembly session and earmark a separate fund in the State budget for Manipur State Film Policy so that the policy can be implemented soon.
Demanding the Government to commence the academic session for Manipur Film Institute at Palace Gate at the earliest, Ganashyam said that the Government's failure to commence the academic session of the institute which was inaugurated in September 2016 is condemnable.
Although the Government has appointed a Director for Manipur State Film Institute, the institute remains useless till today due to lack of infrastructure and manpower, he pointed out.
He conveyed that representatives of FFM and the Government including the Chief Minister and Arts & Culture Minister have held a meeting to discuss about the implementation of Manipur State Film Policy as well as for proper functioning of Manipur Film Institute.
He also said that the forum had sent numerous reminders to the Government in this regard.
The Government had given assurances to look into the matter and do the needful to meet the demands.
However, none of the assurances has been translated into action till date, he rued.
Saying that the forum decided to serve March 10 as the deadline to the Government for failing to meet the demands despite repeated pleas made, he warned of launching different modes of democratic forms of agitation from the next day if the Government fails to do so.